Sixers determined to build through defense

Since the 76ers drafted Ben Simmons first overall, the team's offensive philosophy has been a hot topic.

The Sixers' offense previously was based heavily on the analytics of shooting mostly threes and layups. It is something that Sam Hinkie, the former general manager and president of basketball operations, preferred before he resigned in April.

Coach Brett Brown has consistently said in the past that nothing is going to change.  The team still expects to get out and run. He's also been adamant that you build a franchise through defense – not offense.

The Sixers are interested in developing two-way players, people that are going to make shots and support their bigs. But they need people that are going to grow their defense. That's the end of the story in Brown's view.

Free-agent addition Gerald Henderson is the type of two-way player that Brown coveted.  The former Episcopal Academy standout, who's entering his eighth NBA season, is known as a rugged, yet precise defender. He has a knack for getting up close and personal while guarding opposing shooting guards.

The Sixers will also anchor their defense around 7-foot-2, 275-center Joel Embiid.  The third overall pick in the 2014 draft was sidelined his first two seasons due to two right foot surgeries. However, there's plenty of excitement surrounding his game on both ends of the floor.

Another center, Nerlens Noel, could continue to be a defensive force as long as he remains with the team. The squad is expected to trade Noel or/and center Jahlil Okafor at some point this season.

Jerami Grant and Robert Covington are also expected to provide the defense Brown expects.  Grant can guard both the small forward and power forward positions.  Meanwhile, Covington is arguably the team's most improved defender since signing with the team in November 2014  as primarily a three-point specialist.

So the Sixers do have a few pieces needed to begin molding into the squad Brown envisions.

"I think if we can guard and run and share the ball, then this city is going to like watching this team play," he said.  "That's how I see the world, too. So I'm growing the program and coaching these guys with that in mind. I feel like it's a good fit."

Brown knows the Sixers' offensive philosophy won't even matter without shoring up the defense.

As a former assistant coach in San Antonio, he saw firsthand how dense transformed the Spurs into an elite franchise.

Brown remembers how the Spurs started out as a blue-collar group. They had post players Tim Duncan and David Robinson to go hard, core rules and a level of accountability.

Then the Spurs got into a more free-flowing offense that meshed with their defensive base. Now, San Antonio is regarded as a dynasty that has won five NBA titles and posted 17 straight 50-win seasons.

Brown learned a lot from those blue-collar days with the Spurs.   As long as his current squad goes hard and follow his core rules, maintains a level of accountability and remains healthy, the Sixers should ultimately be successful in several seasons.

They have Simmons and Embiid as potential all-star type cornerstones. They have a few capable defenders.  So Brown has the right plan in place.

The team will have another upgrade in talent next summer. They'll have plenty of cap space to go after A list free agents. The Sixers could also have two first-round picks.

They will select either their own pick or Sacramento's pick, depending on the better of the two.  The Sixers will also get the Los Angeles Lakers' pick unless it falls into the top three. In that case, the Sixers would get the Lakers pick in 2018.

The future appears to be bright. That's why it's important to perfect this blue-collar stage before they can seriously try to duplicate the Spurs.

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