Brett Brown, Sixers need to adjust for Game 2 against Raptors

TORONTO — Coach Brett Brown would only state the obvious.

And what’s overwhelmingly obvious is the 76ers must make adjustments to have a chance to defeat the Toronto Raptors in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series Monday night at Scotiabank Arena.

Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam combined to score 74 points in the Raptors’ 108-95 Game 1 victory on Saturday. Meanwhile, Sixers two-time All-Star Joel Embiid struggled to find his groove and his spots against stiff defensive pressure in the contest. He made just 5 of 18 shots en route to finishing with 16 points. Brown was asked Sunday what he saw in the game that would allow Embiid to get open.

“That we can do that,” Brown responded.

How?

“Why would I tell you that?" he said.

There are several adjustments Brown’s squad must make to avoid dropping into an 0-2 hole in the best-of-seven series. Game 3 will be Thursday at Wells Fargo Center.

One adjustment that’s likely to happen is having 6-foot-10 point guard Ben Simmons guard Leonard more. Simmons did the best job of any Sixer guarding Leonard Saturday night when the three-time All-Star finished with 45 points and 11 rebounds. While no one was able to stop the 6-7 Leonard, Simmons affected a couple of shots with his length.

“Yeah, probably,” Simmons said to being asked if he would guard Leonard more.

The Sixers would also benefit from mixing things up with double-teams from time to time in regards to defending the 27-year-old. On Saturday, he feasted on the Sixers’ predictable man-to-man defense.

But they also need to do something with Siakam, who added 29 points.

Tobias Harris knows the adjustment they must make.

“First off, improving our physicality versus him and then showing more of a crowd,” the power forward said. “I thought [Saturday] night we kind of let them [Leonard and Siakam] get to their spots on the court. Give them credit, too.”

Sunday’s team film study confirmed that the duo hit a bunch of contested shots. But the Sixers know they still have get up the players’ space, bring an extra body, and force someone else to beat them.

In regards to helping Embiid offensively, Philly could try to get Raptors center Marc Gasol in foul trouble. That might require posting up Embiid in the low post and feeding him the ball.

Other game adjustments that should benefit the Sixers in Game 2 are: Change their pick-and-roll defense. They could opt to go to a smaller lineup without 7-4 backup center Boban Marjanovic. Perhaps, they would be better suited having Simmons in the lineup. They could also benefit by posting him up against smaller defenders. The Sixers can go back to putting the ball in Jimmy Butler’s hands to create for himself and others. And they’ll need to do a better job of spreading the ball around. The Sixers realize they’re better offensively when making two or more passes.

But ...

“We have to figure out how to deal with Kawhi and Siakam,” JJ Redick said. "I think, the two biggest adjustments. Some of the other mistakes we made are fixable things that we need to be better, whether it is communicating, getting back on defense, those two things. "

Brown realizes that the Sixers could have done something differently on the duo, but he also realizes that focusing too much on stopping Leonard and Siakam will open things up in the perimeter for the other Raptors. Toronto ranked sixth in three-point percentage (.366) in the regular season.

“I’ve gone through the tape a few times,” Brown said of Game 1. " I can tell you I wake up good to go. Like I really feel that we can come in and be better than we were the first game."