Sixers keeping same approach

TORONTO – No Rudy Gay, no problem. Well, sort of.

The 76ers are approaching Friday night's game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre the same way it did for the teams meeting on Nov. 20.   It will be the same approach they had in all 23 of this season's games.

"We just really don't change much," coach Brett Brown said. "Whether it's Chris Paul or coming into [Minnesota] to face [Ricky] Rubio, every game got a little different type of spin.

"But this game I don't see having any crazy type of spin on it. It's going to be vanilla as we tried to present it the whole year."

With that, the Sixers (7-16) will use the same principles in  guarding the post, guarding pick and rolls and getting back on defense.

But when it comes to facing the Raptors (7-13), Gay is no longer the person the Sixers have to game plan for.

Toronto shipped the swingman along with Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray to the Sacramento Kings on Sunday in return for swingman and Philly native John Salmons, Greivis Vasquez, Chuck Hayes and Patrick Patterson.

There was a thought that the Raptors would also trade point guard and Philly native Kyle Lowry to the Knicks in the days leading up to Friday night's game.

So while the philosophy stays the same, Brown admitted the uncertainly hindered the preparation some.

"It does put curveballs in the mix," said the coach, whose squad lost 108-98 to Raptors last month. "We don't change that much for most people, because of the stage our young team is in.  But it has caused a little bit of problems on wondering who's going to play tonight."

The Sixers better game plan for DeMar DeRozan.

The Raptors guard torched them for a game-high 33 points while making 3 of 5 three-pointers in the teams' first meeting. Toronto made 14 of 29 three-pointers,

- Keith Pompey

Follow and contact Inquirer 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers