76ers: 3 improvements Philadelphia needs to make for Game 2 vs. Hawks

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 06: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers directs teammates during the first quarter against the Atlanta Hawks during Game One of the Eastern Conference second round series at Wells Fargo Center on June 06, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

3 of 3

Credit: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images /

1. A better defensive ;lan

For some reason, Rivers decided Green was his best option to guard Young in the first half of Game 1. Young of course abused that matchup, before a change was made in the second half. Defensive Player of the Year candidate Simmons guarded Young at times in the second half, and he wants the matchup in Game 2.

“Yeah, I probably will do that,” he said. “I want to. So, if the refs ain’t going to call so many fouls, I can be physical and be 6-10, then I’ll be 6-10. But we’ll see.”

Philadelphia guarded Young differently in the second half of Game 1, starting with trapping him around half court. Simmons picked up a couple fouls though, leading to a shift back to Green and Matisse Thybulle on Young. Young is an expert at drawing fouls, so Simmons’ idea of being physical with him is a slippery slope. In any case, Green can’t see much time on Young in Game 2. Without having to expend that kind of energy defensively, ideally he can better on the offensive end (0-for-4 from 3-point range in Game 1).

According to John Schuhmann of NBA.com, the Hawks may have found a previously unexploited weakness in the 76ers’ defense. In Game 1 Atlanta went 8-for-17 on corner 3s, with the makes tied for the second-most corner makes against Philadelphia all season and the attempts a season-high against them. During the regular season, the 76ers allowed just 180 corner 3-point attempts (2.5 per game; tied for second-fewest in the league).

Deciding who guards Young and how it’s done, led by Simmons but likely a mix of guys (sans Green) to keep the Hawks’ best player from getting comfortable, is No. 1 on the agenda defensively for Philadelphia in Game 2.

Atlanta went 20-for-47 ( 42.6 percent) from beyond the arc in Game 1, and Young went just 4-for-11. The 76ers have to tighten up their perimeter defense, after being top-10 in 3-point percentage against during the regular season. Even with some natural adjustments whatever they did in the second half of Game 1, when Atlanta went 7-for-24 from 3-point range, has to continue in Game 2.