The Philadelphia 76ers must now look for answers after going down in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics on Monday. Following a 109-101 loss, Sixers head coach Brett Brown was quizzed on his interest level in a four-out formation that would allow Joel Embiid to operate on his lonesome inside.
The Sixers coach delivered an adamant response:
“Zero,” Brown replied, according to Kyle Neubeck of The Philly Voice. “I lived with Tim Duncan for five NBA Finals, four of which we won, and 12 years with [Gregg Popovich]. And I'm very privileged to have experienced the world of the post player as it relates to spacing and schemes and how people came at him, and one thing that resonates the most is four on the perimeter is the easiest environment to double team a post player and have the ability to put out fires as a result.
“It's too crowded. And so to occupy a low zone and space the court out more interests me the most. If you don't occupy the dunker [spot], it's my opinion that when Marcus Smart or [Jayson] Tatum or Jaylen Brown goes down to double team Joel, which they do often, if you pass out of that, their athletes can put out fires with three-on-four way easier than two-on-three.”
This could be seen as Brown refusing to change his strategy this early in the series, or — more objectively — be seen as him giving the Celtics the ultimate respect.
Boston is long and athletic on the wings. Whatever size they lack at point guard and center, they make up with long, rangy wings like Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, as well as First-Team All-Defense cogs like Marcus Smart.
Perhaps the Sixers mixing this four-out strategy from time to time wouldn't be a bad idea. Though do it too often, and opposing coach Brad Stevens will quickly catch onto that formation, getting his agile wings to wreak havoc on Embiid and force a number of turnovers.
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