Nerlens Noel has increased his production significantly since the Philadelphia 76ers' trade of Michael Carter-Williams, which has created a big role for Ish Smith.

In the 20 games since Smith's arrival, Noel has averaged 11.1 shots per game, up from 7.8.

"He finds me whenever I'm open and, honestly, he's the first true point guard I've ever really played with," Noel said Monday. "He said I'm one of the few elite big men that he's played with so I think we complement each other so well."

Carter-Williams would often look for his own shot in pick-and-rolls with Noel. Noel often was caught off-guard by Carter-Williams' passes.

"He making me look good," said Smith. "I know people keep saying [it's me], but he's making me look good. All I have to do is put it somewhere around the rim and he's going to get it. We're still trying to shore up some things. Like in Cleveland, they did a good job in the second half taking the lob away. So we're still trying to figure out how, down the stretch, we can figure out some different things. Coach [Brett Brown] was talking to us about it. We're still trying to work out some kinks.

"I've never really clicked with somebody that quick, that fast. I've never had anybody that I've played with that athletic. Well, Dwight [Howard] was pretty athletic. But Nerlens, he goes and gets everything."

"It's a relationship that is growing," said Brett Brown. "Ish helps Nerlens and the communication that they have is free and just very productive and very healthy between a point guard and a post man. [It's] really encouraging."