To win Game 6 against Raptors, Sixers need more aggression from Ben Simmons and the backcourt

So much has been made, rightly so, about the lack of aggressiveness of Ben Simmons in the 76ers’ Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Raptors.

That could be extended to the starting backcourt in general, including JJ Redick along with Simmons.

Trailing three games to two in their Eastern Conference semifinal series, the Sixers will look to stave off elimination in Thursday’s 8 p.m. game against the Raptors at the Wells Fargo Center.

One way to determine offensive aggressiveness is getting to the foul line. In that aspect, Toronto has a huge edge on the Sixers.

Raptors starting guards Kyle Lowry and Danny Green have combined to shoot 27-for-30 in the series from the foul line, with Green having hit all 12 foul shots.

Simmons and Redick are just 7-for-11. Only four attempts have come from Simmons. In the previous five-game series against the Brooklyn Nets, Simmons and Redick attempted a combined 34 free throws, 24 by Simmons.

During the last two Raptors wins, the aggressiveness of their guards was telling. While Lowry didn’t attempt a free throw in Toronto’s 101-96 win in Game 4, Green hit all eight of his attempts. Redick and Simmons were a combined 3-for-5.

In Tuesday’s 125-89 loss in Toronto, Simmons and Redick were 1-for-1 from the line (by Simmons) while Lowry and Green were 9-for-10.

Sixers coach Brett Brown said during a conference call on Wednesday that using free throws as a measure of his starting backcourt’s aggressiveness is only half-true.

“I think with JJ, that has never been sort of an area that I think defined does he play well or doesn’t he, is he aggressive or isn’t he,” Brown said. “That is sort of not his thing. With Ben, I think it is true.”

Still, Redick is averaging just 1.4 free-throw attempts in this series, compared to 2.0 in the Nets series and 3.4 during the regular season.

Redick’s role is to score. On Tuesday he was 1-for-6 from the field, and 1-of-3 from three-point range.

But the greater problem with aggressiveness has been Simmons.

“He [Simmons] has not gotten to the line say as much as he did in the Brooklyn series or the regular season, Brown said.

Against the Nets, he averaged 4.8 free throws per game and in the regular season it was 5.4.

“We hope to encourage him [Simmons] and help him as much as we can especially in early offense,” Brown said.

In this series, Simmons is not handling the ball as much as he has in the past. That’s because Jimmy Butler has frequently been the player running the offense, with Simmons playing off the ball.

Brown was asked if Butler’s additional ballhandling has taken something away from Simmons’ aggression.

“I think it is overrated,” Brown said, who then added, “I think when you look at it, there is a portion of it that is true.”

Brown later expanded on Butler’s increased role in running the offense.

“It is true at times we give Jimmy the ball, there is a portion of that where Jimmy is the point guard anyway, and so I hope to help Ben continue that aggressive open-court mentality, but to connect the dots much would be a mistake.”

In summation, Brown says he continues to encourage Simmons to attack the basket.

“I think coming back to Philadelphia we will see an aggressive Ben Simmons," Brown said.

The Sixers could also use Redick getting off to a quick start. When he is hot right away, it opens up space for everybody in the offense.

Increased production from both guards will be needed if the Sixers hope to extend the series to a seventh game on Sunday,