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Cooney: Sixers learning to rely on their defense

THERE HAS NEVER been any sleight of hand or cryptic talk by Brett Brown since he took the job as 76ers coach in May 2013. The former San Antonio Spurs assistant knew full well what he was getting into - a massive rebuild, the likes of which had never been

THERE HAS NEVER been any sleight of hand or cryptic talk by Brett Brown since he took the job as 76ers coach in May 2013. The former San Antonio Spurs assistant knew full well what he was getting into - a massive rebuild, the likes of which had never been seen before in the NBA, or maybe in all of sports. In a short time, the roster he inherited would be mostly gone, filled with young, inexperienced players and largely made up of players whose talents teetered between NBA fill-in or lifelong overseas player.

No matter the talent, or lack thereof, that littered his roster, Brown stayed the course he believed was needed to take this organization to where it eventually wanted to go. The avenue he knew he had to travel was one that led to defense as the final destination.

Perhaps superstars were way out on the horizon. Maybe big-time free agents would take a chance on helping the building process. But none of that mattered to Brown if each of those pieces didn't believe that playing defense was of the utmost importance.

Now in his fourth season, the coach is starting to see what he envisioned after what now seems like a million years ago, after so many losses, so many roster moves, so many defensive lapses.

A huge part of the transformation has to do with the gigantic presence of 7-2, 270-pound Joel Embiid in the lane. The Red Sea defense (think, parting) that was so prevalent the past few seasons, and still shows itself occasionally, is protected by Embiid's terrific timing and shot-blocking ability. Because of his presence, perimeter defenders are able to get out on shooters more quickly without worrying about getting beat off the dribble, knowing help is waiting behind them.

And with Embiid's offensive abilities, better shots are taken, meaning that teams get clean run-outs after bad, long shots less and less. Ball pressure is better. Rotations are still a work in progress, but improving.

Like so many other aspects of this team, there is plenty of room for improvement, but it seems to be coming.

While the team still needs to improve on points allowed (105.6, 21st in the league, heading into Thursday's action), the Sixers have clawed their way to being a middle-of-the-road defensive team in most categories. That might not seem like something to boast about right now, but it is much better than where they were, and improvement seems steady.

Brown focuses most often on defensive efficiency, or points allowed per 100 possessions. There, the Sixers are in the middle of the pack, No. 16, at a rate of 105.2. At one point last season, they climbed as high as seventh, and that's where Brown would like to see his team trending again.

"I'm seeing more tenacity as a group . . . we're learning more how to play (defense) with Joel," said Brown, whose team won for the fourth time in five games Wednesday on a buzzer-beater by T.J. McConnell against the New York Knicks. "I think it's all a collaborative effort. None of us - and we've all seen a lot of basketball - will see a finer play than Joel made at the end, coming from a weakside to take away a lock-and-lob to Melo (Carmelo Anthony). He covered ground to come up with a steal and save a layup.

"I think there is a toughness in our group that I just am falling in love with. Toward the end, you have (Robert) Covington and (Gerald) Henderson and Embiid and T.J. I feel like it's more of a collective effort than it is learning how to play around Joel."

That's true, but it's also more fun to play at the defensive end when you know the slightest of mistakes, whether it be an out-of-control closeout or bite on a pump fake, will be handled by the back line of the defense, namely Embiid.

"If this program is going to go anywhere close to where we want it, it's going to have to start with the defense," Brown said. "There is no way around that. We have goals in 10-game increments, and defense is always one of them, in some form. That won't, and just can't, change."