think for the past few years weve been building something, he sai

CAMDEN, N.J. -- Shortly after Philadelphia 76ers president and general manager Bryan Colangelo said he is not actively shopping any of his players, Sixers center Nerlens Noel openly wondered how he, Jahlil Okafor and Joel Embiid can co-exist as the teams three big men.I dont see a way of it working, Noel said Monday, one day before the Sixers first full workout in their new practice facility along the New Jersey riverfront across from Philadelphia. Its just a logjam.Youve got three talented centers that can play 30-plus minutes a night and three centers cant play 30 minutes a night. Thats that. Things need to be situated, Noel said. Obviously, somebodys got to be moved around. Its a tough situation, but I can only say so much because I have no say and no power.Noel, 22, has averaged 10.5 points and 8.1 rebounds in his first two seasons in Philadelphia while watching the Sixers go 18-64 as a rookie and 10-72 last season. But with 20-year-old Okafor (17.5 points, 7.0 rebounds per game last season) returning for his second NBA season and Embiid (right foot surgery) healthy for the first time since being drafted by the in 2014, the Sixers have an overabundance of bigs and Colangelo says that is just fine with him.We have a lot of time for things to work out, said Colangelo, who took over for former general manager Sam Hinkie in April. Some of it will happen in the preseason, some of it will happen in the regular season. I dont feel like were up against any kind of deadline of any sort.Noel is in the final year of his four-year rookie contract and the Sixers have until Oct. 31 to extend his deal. Colangelo acknowledged that until the Sixers have a better understanding of how many minutes Embiid will be able to play -- there is a chance he will not play on consecutive nights to start the season -- they will be hesitant to move one of their centers.Were thrilled to be in the situation were in and have that depth, Colangelo said.Sixers veteran Elton Brand said he expects the three-man battle between Okafor, Embiid and Noel to be a bloodbath, but Noel questioned whether any good could come from the Sixers wait-and-see approach.Wait and see? I cant say I do understand that, Noel said. I just dont think it makes too much sense to come into the season with such a heavy lineup at the center position, I dont know what there is to wait and see.Regardless, the Sixers are hoping that with first overall pick Ben Simmons and a healthy Embiid (third overall in 2014), they can improve significantly on their 10-win season, which began with 17 straight losses last year.One of the biggest things weve talked about is changing the mindset of the team from one that was almost accepting of losing, Colangelo said. Even though they were playing hard they werent winning. It was a losing culture and hopefully we take a step forward toward winning.Sixers fourth-year guard Hollis Thompson certainly hopes so.I think for the past few years weve been building something, he said, and now I feel were right on the hump and we want to go after it. Roberto Alomar Jersey Large . 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Custom Orioles Jerseys . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No.WASHINGTON -- Stephen Strasburg fiddled with the bottom of his grey T-shirt and stared blankly ahead, unaccustomed to his Washington Nationals struggling day after day the way they are at the moment. "We need to win some games," Strasburg said. "Its getting to the point where our backs against the wall." A popular pick to follow up last years majors-leading 98 wins and playoff appearance with a deep run, Washington is in a real rut right now. Wasting Strasburgs 12-strikeout performance, and held without a hit by Pittsburghs Francisco Liriano until the sixth inning, the Nationals lost to the Pirates 4-2 Wednesday night, their sixth consecutive defeat since the All-Star break. "When things get tough ... your true colours really come out. Its all about what type of person you are. Are you the type thats going to sit there and look in the mirror and do everything you can to be better out there? Or are you going to start pointing fingers?" Strasburg said. "I dont think theres a single guy in the clubhouse whos going to start pointing fingers. Every single guy in here is responsible and we all want to win just as bad as any other team out there." The reigning NL East champions are currently in third place, a season-worst nine games behind the Atlanta Braves, and the offence is mainly to blame. The Nationals have scored only 13 runs during their 0-6 slide, which is part of a 2-11 stretch. Already the owner of one previous no-hitter, Liriano (10-4) walked the first batter he faced, then retired 11 in a row before another walk. Five more outs followed, before rookie Anthony Rendon reached on what was ruled an infield single with two away in the sixth. Third baseman Pedro Alvarez -- who earlier homered off Strasburg -- dove to his left to stop the ball, but it popped out of his glove, and he couldnt quite corral it. The next batter walked, but Liriano struck out cleanup hitter Jayson Werth looking. "Everything was working the way I wanted tonight," said Liriano, who wound up allowing two hits in 7 2-3 innings. The Pirates tacked on three insurance runs in the ninth against relievers Drew Storen and Fernando Abad, thanks to Neil Walkers RBI double and Michael McKenrys two-run single. That became pivotal when Werth hit a two-run shot, his 15th homer, off Justin Wilson in the bottom half. Werth is seemingly the only Nationals batter capable of producing at the moment; hes hit five homers in the past four games. Wilson was replaced by Mark Melancon, who got the last three outs to earn his third save --- ending with a double play on which second baseman Walker whiffed on his attempted tag of lead runner Wilson Ramos.dddddddddddd "Not even close. He never tagged me," Ramos said. He argued the call with umpire Laz Diaz, to no avail. "Maybe," Ramos said, "he (wanted) to go home." Nationals spokesman John Dever declined to check whether the umpiring crew would respond to reporters request for comment. Washington centre fielder Denard Spans take: "Its no secret that the ball definitely isnt bouncing our way. That wasnt the story of the game tonight, but anything couldve happened if that play isnt called there." The Nationals are a season-worst five games under .500 at 48-53. Already having all sorts of trouble at the plate -- so much so that the club fired hitting coach Rick Eckstein this week -- Washingtons starting lineup was missing All-Star left fielder Bryce Harper and shortstop Ian Desmond. Harper was held out as a precaution after getting treatment on the left knee that landed him on the disabled list earlier this season, while Desmond is dealing with a blister on his left hand. The last time Washington lost more than six consecutive games was nearly four years ago: They dropped eight in a row from Aug. 28 to Sept. 5, 2009, according to STATS LLC -- shortly after signing Strasburg as the No. 1 overall pick in that years amateur draft. This was Strasburgs ninth career game with 10 or more strikeouts and first this season. His career high remains the 14 Ks from his major league debut on June 8, 2010, against Pittsburgh. "I want to be the big dog in the rotation; that comes with the territory. The sixth inning isnt cool anymore, for me," Strasburg said. "I want to go seven, eight and hopefully nine sometime." Strasburg (5-8) did not walk anyone in eight innings Wednesday, giving up only one run and two hits, all in the second inning. That included the leadoff shot by Pedro Alvarez, who drove a 96 mph fastball over the wall in right-centre for his 26th homer. "A backspin 2-iron," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle called it. "Ive seen a lot of home runs. Ive seen a lot of hard-hit balls. But that one got my attention." Notes: Melancon is filling in for closer Jason Grilli, on the disabled list with a strained right forearm. ... Nationals manager Davey Johnson said LHP Ross Detwiler is expected to miss a month with a back injury. ... On Thursday, the Nationals will start LHP Gio Gonzalez (7-3, 2.89) against Pirates RHP A.J. Burnett (4-7, 3.07). ' ' '