3 adjustments for Game 2: Make Trae Young work on defense
Taking Young out of the offense is a good start, but it isn’t the only thing Rivers should throw Young’s way. The Philadelphia 76ers also need to make Young work on the defensive end. Too many times in Game 1 Young was able to hide on defense guarding Danny Green.
“It will force Young to switch on the ball handler, who should have the advantage as Young’s been a negative defender.”
That can’t happen in Game 2. Rivers has to find a way to make Young exert energy on defense. If he can, then it will be harder for the point guard to score on offense as he’s used more energy on defense and can’t save himself for just offense. The question is how should Rivers scheme the offense to attack Young defensively?
The answer is simple, the Sixers have to involve Young’s in screens and pick-and-rolls like Kline wrote about. However, to be clear, Young will be guarding to the 76ers’ worst offensive player, so having that player running the pick-and-roll won’t probably happen and be effective.
Whether it be Green or Matisse Thybulle, they can’t be the ball handler in the pick-and-roll. The solution is that they need to be setting the pick in that play. It will force Young to switch on the ball handler, who should have the advantage as Young’s been a negative defender. If the Hawks decide not to switch, then that just means the ball handler will have an advantage because of the pick set.
It should be noted that Philly doesn’t run a lot of pick-and-rolls, but they do run some screens and dribble handle-offs. Thybulle isn’t a player that can’t really run those as he’s not a strong shooter, but Green can so Rivers needs to run those for Green when he is being guarded by Young.
There’s a way to make Young work on the defensive end and Rivers has to make that a focus in Gam 2.