Sixers’ surge propelled by defensive identity, team ‘togetherness’
Any Sixer whos touched the floor this season has understood the teams core defensive principles.
If the balls on the side, it should never come to the middle, Sixers head coach Doc Rivers said on Nov. 9. If the balls on the side and it doesnt come to the middle, there always has to be a low guy.
A week later, Rivers added, We want (Joel Embiid) up at the screen, being able to get back. We want our low man to take the roller as much as he can, and Jo will get back. And we want our guards fighting over the screens. Weve been better when weve done that. Out of a timeout, were switching everything. But for the most part, were switching one through four.
Those rules are subject to change in a variety of situations, including when the Sixers struggle against a star guard or like the idea of using P.J. Tucker on the opposing center.
But in several key ways, the Sixers have known for many months how their coaches want them to defend.
I think its been great for us, Georges Niang said following practice Tuesday. I think weve been top 10 (in defensive rating) for the most part of the year, right? Thats what they say; Im not looking up defensive numbers, trust me. But I think it is a good emphasis. It helps us have an identity that were not letting people go middle and were sending them to help, and getting in rotation after that. So I think thats been huge for us.
(Assistant coach) Dan Burke does a great job of teaching us night in and night out with what he wants from the specific matchups. And I think its been helpful for us, because our defense has won us some games down the stretch this year.
The Sixers are indeed top 10 in defensive rating eighth in the NBA as of Wednesday morning. And though theyve frequently been flawed on that end of the floor, Niang is right that strong late-game defense has helped them secure tight wins. The Sixers rank third in fourth-quarter defensive rating and second in clutch defensive rating.
In their comeback win last Friday night over the Trail Blazers, the Sixers nailed their principles on a few crucial plays.
Though Tyrese Maxey got clobbered by Jusuf Nurkics screen, he effectively shaded Damian Lillard away from the middle. Embiid sprinted out to the perimeter and contested his jumper well.
With DeAnthony Melton again icing the pick-and-roll, Lillard swiftly drove baseline. Nurkic didnt initially roll, so Niang made a good read as the low man to instead focus on the driver. And Embiid showed off his agility by getting back to block the All-Star guards floater attempt.
Obviously, the Sixers often need to handle situations that dont unfold exactly as envisioned. After Melton failed to lead Lillard to where Embiid was lurking, he twice displayed impressive effort, instincts and length to recover and ultimately impact the play.
Theres times when the fundamentals wont be sufficient. On the play below, the Sixers checked the boxes of taking the middle away from Lillard and having the low man (Niang) on the roller. However, Lillard threw a quick pocket pass and Niang couldnt stop a 7-footer rumbling toward him.
The Sixers scored the game’s final four points after that Nurkic and-one. As a team, they’ve generally been strong this season at moving on to whatevers next; its one reason theyve grown rather comfortable at erasing big deficits.
That quality has been prominent on an individual level, too. Niang, for instance, has never doubted that hell shoot his way out of a slump. Hes also admired Danuel House Jr., whos re-entered the Sixers rotation in March and added step-back three-pointers, HOLY MOLY DANUEL HOUSE JR.
HOLY. MOLY. 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/aKfNvxGeXU
Hes awesome, Niang said of House after the Blazers game. How much energy does he have? I thought I had the most energy, but he definitely is up there. Hes just a great guy to be around. Hes funny, hes outgoing, and hes 4 the House, 4 the team. His spark off the bench whether its defending, chasing someone around, having a spectacular dunk, making a three.
He doesnt get enough credit for how much of a team guy that he is. And I can say that with him playing early, then not playing a bunch, and then coming in and impacting winning. Its been great to see because he deserves everything thats come his way.
On Tuesday, Shake Milton smiled when asked about another high-energy bench player whos contributed to the Sixers 6-1 start to March.
Like Paul Reed, Milton was drafted late in the second round and played much of his rookie season in the G League as a two-way contract player.
Man, P-Reed, thats my guy, Milton said. Hes somebody whos always had that dog in him. Im not going to say Ive taken him under my wing, but hes someone I always just want to talk to because the way hes come into the league and his situation, Ive been in kind of a similar spot. So I can tell him what hes looking for, what he needs to do. And P-Reed is simple, man. Hes going to get out there, hes going to play hard, and hes going to make something happen every time he touches the court.
For me, I just tell him little things. Of course you might want to work on stuff that you might do later in your career when you have a little bit more opportunity, but I also tell him to stay focused on the things he needs to do right now to stay on the floor and continue to get minutes. P-Reed is definitely accepting anytime somebodys trying to teach him something that will help him continue to grow.
I think thats the big thing for P. He has a mindset where he wants to grow, he wants to continue to get better. And anytime you have that type of combination especially with the way he works hes going to be good wherever he goes and whatever happens in his story. Thats my guy. Im proud of him and Im happy for him.
Niang called this years Sixers the most focused group Ive been around.” He also noted their togetherness has stood out to him recently.
Based on what we’ve seen and heard in March, that’s no surprise.
I think weve really come together because we truly believe in each other and realize that we have an opportunity to be something great,” Niang said. I think Doc sat us down after that Miami game and was like, Hey, you may have another chance at this, but for most of you, you may not. And you dont want to sit back when your career is over and be like damn, I wish I took that a little more seriously.
And I think that definitely hit guys in the head or in the heart or maybe in both where theyre like, All right, lets really pour into each other and make the most of this so that we can win a championship.
