Five things you need to know about the 76ers today

Five things you need to know about the 76ers today:

1.  It appeared Tuesday night that fans in Philadelphia did not support the 76ers' decision to take Nerlens Noel out of the rotation for the foreseeable future. How else can you explain the chants "We want Nerlens" and the standing ovation he received while checking into the game in the third quarter of Tuesday's setback to the New Orleans Pelicans?

2.  Without Noel  and Richaun Holmes in the game and with Joel Embiid at power forward, the Sixers have major defensive problems. It's a layup line waiting to happen.

3. Embiid wants to play alongside Noel in the team's twin towers set. He made that known following Tuesday's setback.

4. Ersan Ilyasova is turning into a double-figures machine.  The reserve power forward has scored in double-figures in 22 of his 25 games since being acquired in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

5.  T. J. McConnell's 39 steals rank second behind Robert Covington's 41 on the team. Not bad for McConnell, considering Covington has played 181 more minutes.

Follow and contact 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers.