For a Sixers group with lofty goals, communication is key on the defensive end
The Sixers improved on defense during the offseason, but the bond they build as a group will define their level of success.
The 76ers have voiced their lofty goal of becoming the NBA’s best defense.
They made major additions to that side of the ball this offseason, bringing in P.J. Tucker, De’Anthony Melton and Danuel House Jr.
Yet the Sixers’ perimeter defense in Wednesday’s 113-112 exhibition win revealed they have a long way to go. Cleveland made 7 of 12 mostly wide open three-pointers in the first quarter. For the half, the Cavaliers shot 50% (10 of 20 from three). Both squads rested their starters and reduced the minutes of some key reserve players after intermission.
“Defensively I felt we were too much all over the place versus Cleveland,” Tobias Harris said. “Like just getting our schemes and our matchups right. A lot of situations where we could had switched, we gave up too many open threes. In transition, we didn’t go a great job of communicating and getting back.
“I don’t think anybody was happy with our effort out there.”
So communicating on defense, switching into the right matchup, finding open shooters and closing out on attempts are the things the Sixers must improve before the Oct. 18 season opener against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden.
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“Mainly, we are trying to work on being a great help defensive team,” Tyrese Maxey said. “Playing with each other, playing for each other on the defensive end. That’s extremely hard, because we got a lot of different guys, [coming from] a lot of different systems. ... Now, we’re just trying to bring it together in one system.”
The Sixers’ starting backcourt of Maxey and James Harden is known for offensive production — not lockdown defense. That plays a part in the Sixers’ approach to communicating, switching and providing help defense.
There were times Wednesday when players zeroed in on their position only to realize someone was open on the perimeter, which led to slow closeouts.
Unlike Monday, the Sixers played with their entire starting lineup and key rotation players against the Cavs. This created a bit more realistic barometer of where they stand on defense.
Harden, Tucker, House Jr. and Joel Embiid sat out Monday’s 127-108 victory in Brooklyn.
“We did a poor job on that [Wednesday],” Georges Niang said. “But that was something I think we did a really good job of in Brooklyn [Monday], was sprinting back to the paint, protecting the paint, and finding the shooters.
“On [Wednesday], we tried to find our matchup where that wasn’t really a good thing for us. They kind of exposed us.”
At times, the Sixers matched up with the wrong guy or had two players on one guy. That created mismatches and wide-open opportunities for Cleveland.
“Communication is really important,” coach Doc Rivers said. “You have so many different guys. ... The clearer you are, the louder you are, the multiple times you yell it is very important. We [collectively] don’t do that yet.”
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Tucker does, and Rivers said he’s been phenomenal at it. But the team needs everyone to do it.
Friday was a great start. The Sixers had a spirited practice focused on defense.
“You got Joel talking,” Tucker said. “To hear him talking was crazy. So let’s try to build off that. See what happens.”
In the era of positionless basketball, the Sixers’ ability to adapt to unconventional defensive assignments will also be critical.
“That’s how the game is going, and you are going to have to be able to guard one through five out there,” Niang said. “That’s really how the game is going to be.”
That’s something the Sixers hope to improve during their final two exhibition games.
They’re confident that they’ll get better. The Sixers believe it’s just a matter of dissecting the film and figuring out areas of growth.
With several new faces, the Sixers have to communicate, build chemistry and figure out what guys are capable of defensively.
“But I felt in that game, overall, we just need to do a better job of staying in front of the basketball,” Harris said. “There was too many times they were just driving by us, beating us [and] switches causing help defense for open threes.
“It’s not an easy fix, but something we can fix, especially how early it is right now.”
Rivers returns
Rivers was back at practice after missing Wednesday’s exhibition with an illness.
Lead assistant Dave Joerger, a former NBA head coach with the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings, led the Sixers against the Cavs.
“I feel good until right now,” Rivers joked about doing a post-practice media availability. “Nah, I feel great.”