Philadelphia 76ers are laying the foundation for an elite defense

The Philadelphia 76ers, if everything breaks right, could build the NBA’s top defense.

No team pushed the Toronto Raptors harder than the Philadelphia 76ers this postseason. The Sixers were a Kawhi Leonard miracle away from potential Finals contention, showing just how close Elton Brand‘s midseason moves got them.

Now the Sixers must retool and run it back. Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris are both free agents, but Philadelphia has the option of throwing five years, $190 million at both — more than any other team can offer. The Sixers should do whatever it takes to retain their new star power.

If the Sixers manage to keep everything in tact, Philadelphia has a real chance at winning next season’s championship. Toronto, Milwaukee, Golden State, Los Angeles and other teams are firmly in the hunt, but the Sixers — with more cohesion and familiarity — have favorable odds.

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The primary reason for the Sixers’ title contention isn’t offense. It’s defense. The Sixers have a unique rotation capable of not exploiting mismatches on offense, but it’s their defensive physicality that almost derailed the Raptors’ title run.

J.J. Redick was the only Sixer under 6-foot-6 in the postseason rotation. While Tobias Harris isn’t considered an elite defender, he’s 6-foot-8, a solid athlete and he hustles. Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler and Ben Simmons — when locked in — are All-Defense talents.

The Sixers also brought two versatile, tough-minded defenders off the bench in James Ennis and Mike Scott. While there’s a decent chance Ennis bolts, Philadelphia will have more than enough defensive firepower to replace him next season.

When October hits, the Sixers can finally unleash a healthy, in-basketball-shape Zhaire Smith. The Sixers can also unleash rookie Matisse Thybulle, the reigning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and a historic defender at the collegiate level.

Last season, Thybulle averaged more steals than assists and turnovers. He tallied 3.5 thefts and 2.2 blocks per contest, wreaking havoc in passing lanes, sniffing out weak-side blocks and stabilizing Washington’s effective zone defense.

The Sixers have two elite on-ball defenders in Simmons and Butler, as well as Smith — the best perimeter defensive prospect in the 2018 draft — waiting in the wings. Embiid is a catch-all at the rim, cleaning up messes and deterring drives.

It offers a perfect opportunity for Thybulle to join the second unit, get legitimate playing time and freelance on defense. To play safety, hovering around passing lanes, bolting around the court and searching for turnovers. A more free version of what Robert Covington was allowed to do.

There’s no guarantee Thybulle and Smith are perfect in year one, but both have the tools to become plus NBA defenders right away. Smith has elite lateral quickness and has already shown a rare willingness to fight over screens. He’s going to bring immediate value as an on-ball defender. Thybulle is a four-year senior who has always possessed great instincts.

The Sixers have size and versatility in the starting lineup, as well as Embiid — the NBA’s top defensive center in a postseason setting. Now adding Thybulle and Smith to a mix that might still include Scott and Ennis, the Sixers have a bench with legitimate lock-down potential.

Elton Brand will need to add a dosage of shooting to the second unit, but Philadelphia has built the foundation for an absolutely suffocated defense. One that can thrive both in the regular season due to depth and in the postseason due to physicality.

If Butler and Harris return, Philadelphia has the tools to compete short-term and the assets to sustain success long-term. As Butler ages, Thybulle and Smith can fill a defensive void. Simmons and Embiid are still improving.

There are well-documented concerns about the degree to which an Embiid-Simmons pairing can coexist on offense. While those concerns are overblown, they’re legitimate. It just might not matter. The Sixers might have a good enough defense to overcome whatever minor shortcomings exist on offense.

If Philadelphia can run it back, it’s important not to understate the value of a full summer and training camp. The Sixers’ defense peaked in the playoffs, but was largely inconsistent prior. That was due to inexperience, as the new players –which constituted most of the rotation — just weren’t comfortable in Brown’s scheme.

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On the whole, expect a rebooted Sixers team to fare better in both the regular season and postseason. There’s something to be said for continuity — a team of players who choose to be there and have a common source of motivation. It’s why Elton should have no reservations about paying up for the Sixers’ pricey free agents.