The Sixers look to improve both shooting and defending three-pointers | Off the Dribble

Good morning, Sixers fans. Those who couldn’t stay up likely know by now that the Sixers’ four-game road winning streak was snapped Thursday night with a 118-114 loss at Portland.

The Sixers had a rough night shooting and defending the three-pointer. Is it is a long-term concern or just an off-game?

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— Marc Narducci (offthedribble@inquirer.com)

In Thursday’s loss, the Sixers shot 6-for-27 (.222) from three-point range and allowed Portland to shoot 17-for-38 (.447). That the Sixers were in the game until the end with such a discrepancy is pretty amazing.

The Sixers are 18-8. Here are the Sixers’ three-point percentage and opponents’ three-point percentage in their losses.

Dec. 27 — 118-94 at Cleveland: Sixers 13-37 (.324); Cavaliers (9-23 (.391)

Jan. 7 — 122-109 at Brooklyn: Sixers 9-26 (.346); Nets 15-37 (.405)

Jan. 9 — 115-103 Denver; Sixers 11-35 (.314); Nuggets 12-33 (.364)

Jan. 11 — 112-94 at Atlanta: Sixers 8-36 (.222); Hawks 17-44 (.386)

Jan. 16 — 106-104 at Memphis: Sixers 7-25 (.280); Grizzlies 8-29, (276)

Jan. 25 — 119-104 at Detroit: Sixers 9-28 (.321); Pistons 17-38 (.447)

Feb. 4 — 121-105 Portland: Sixers 7-27 (.259); Trail Blazers 13-31 (.419)

Feb. 11 — 118-114 at Portland: Sixers 6-27 (.222); Trail Blazers 17-38 (.447)

In only one of the losses did the Sixers shoot a better percentage, and that was close against Memphis, .280 to .276.

After Thursday’s loss, Joel Embiid was asked about the Sixers’ three-point defense in the past few games and how they can improve it.

“We just got to be in sync and help each other,” he said. “Our defense, we focus a lot on protecting the paint, especially with me behind that, and at times teams take advantage of it.”

In the NBA the Sixers are around the middle of the pack in defending the three. They are 16th in three-point field-goal defense (37.1%). Even the Brooklyn Nets, a poor defensive team, have a better opponents’ percentage (36.4%). Still, there are stronger contenders even below the Sixers. Milwaukee, for instance, is 25th (38.7%).

The Sixers are 19th in three-point field-goal percentage (35.8%).

The Sixers don’t have to be among the leaders in three-point shooting, because with Embiid, they also have one of the NBA’s top post-up games. According to NBA.com, Embiid leads the NBA in post-ups (12.5 per game) and post-up points (8.3 per game).

Overall, the Sixers have been an excellent defensive team. They are fourth in the NBA in defensive rating (107.9), meaning that is how many points they allow per 100 possessions.

There are always things to work on, and three-point defense is one of them. Their three-point shooting could improve, as well.

The Sixers will visit the Phoenix Suns on Saturday and get to revisit with one of their former players (for less than an hour). Mikal Bridges, selected 10th overall by the Sixers, was traded on draft night in 2018 to Phoenix for the No. 16 pick (Zhaire Smith) and the Miami Heat’s first-round pick in 2021 that the Suns owned.

Now in his third season, Bridges, a two-time national champion at Villanova, is averaging 14.5 points and 5.5 rebounds and shooting 39.7% from three-point range in 33.6 minutes a game for the much improved Suns (15-9).

Speaking of improved, Bridges has been mentioned as a major candidate for the NBA’s most-improved-player award.

Bridges, also an accomplished defender, had his best game this season when he scored 34 points and hit 6 of 8 three-pointers in a 125-117 win at Indiana on Jan. 9.

Phoenix has won four in a row and seven of eight. In his last three games, Bridges has averaged 18.7 points and is shooting 73.3% from the field and 60% from three-point range.

Bridges, who is averaging 11.3 points in four career games against the Sixers, has also been an ironman. He has played in 179 consecutive games.

Saturday: Sixers at Phoenix Suns, 3 p.m., Phoenix Suns Arena, NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus/NBA TV

Monday: Sixers at Utah Jazz, 9 p.m., Vivint Arena, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Wednesday: Houston Rockets at Sixers, 7:30 p.m., Wells Fargo Center, ESPN/NBC Sports Philadelphia

Feb. 19: Chicago Bulls at Sixers, 7:30 p.m., Wells Fargo Center, ESPN/NBC Sports Philadelphia

Feb. 21: Sixers vs. Toronto Raptors, 7 p.m. Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida, NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Question: I see a lot of people talking about different trades. So my question is: why would we want to disrupt our team (who is No. 1 in the East) by making any unnecessary trades? — Rose Buck on Facebook

Answer: Thanks for the excellent question, Rose. You make a good point, but the problem is that since the Eastern Conference is up for grabs, I believe all the contenders will be looking for upgrades. You can almost count on it that Boston, with a $28.5 million trade exception, does something. I also feel Milwaukee needs another bench scorer and the Nets need an interior defender.

I don’t think the Sixers at this stage of the season would trade a starter or even a key rotation player such as Dwight Howard or Matisse Thybulle, but a future draft choice or two might be worth it.