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WHILE MOST of the talk about the 76ers of late has been centered on point guard Ish Smith, there is another reason the team has been able to post a 5-8 record over the past 13 games after beginning the season 1-30. The reason is the Sixers' play at the defensive end, where they've been better at protecting the rim,jordans for cheap, have become a little more resistent in letting teams drive to the basket and have gotten better shots at the offensive end, which limits easy breakouts for the other team. Throughout his three seasons here, coach Brett Brown has said that this organization will be, and has to be, built on defense. He feels without it, moving forward in other areas just isn't possible. As they've proved lately, defense leads to better play all around. They've allowed just 96.8 points on average in the five games they've won over the past 13. It is all a familiar feeling for Brown, if you can fathom that. "It is so similar to last year. It is very similar to this time last year where we started playing well, particularly on the defensive end, right before the All-Star break," said Brown. "With these guys we live in 10-game clumps and we set goals for those 10 games. That makes it easier for me, and, I think, for them,cheap air jordans, to walk down a long season. We just finished a 10-game clump in which our goal was to turn the ball over 15 or less times a game, and we did that. That also included a couple of overtime games. When we can protect the ball a little bit better, then the other team isn't getting easy baskets and we aren't committing a large number of fouls trying to get back in transition." It all ties in. A more efficient offense leads to being able to get set faster and easier at the defensive end. A better offense simply makes the game tighter and, as we've all seen, when the games start to unravel a bit,cheap air jordan shoes, the Sixers usually are the ones watching the ball go through the basket at the wrong end of the floor. "With that, my focus is till the All-Star break," said Brown. "To me,real cheap jordans retro, our recent play really is a flashback to last year at the All-Star break, winning games through our defense. We know we're going to have to score to close games out, but we really have tried to focus the defensive base to close it out. For me, it is still a challenge how to close games out with Nerlens (Noel) in rim protection, which he does extremely well, and Jahlil (Okafor) being able to score so easily and still looking to get better and trying hard to get better at the defensive end." While the addition of Smith at point guard has made a tremendous change to the offensive side of the ball,cheap jordans free shipping, there are only a few things Brown thinks his team needs to keep doing to satisfy him defensively. "I think it's just a product of the system," Brown said. "We don't do much, but what we do, I want to be solid and consistent and where we are accountable. They know that they should have done this, they need to do that. I think players are taking an accountability aspect. I thing that it's that, overall. If you grab something simple you can coach it better and tie it up better over time. "The turnovers, we used to feature regularly in high teens and low 20s. This set of 10 games, we achieved the turnover goal. That is a big thing. Even in overtime games, we haven't come with an extraordinary number. Good shots don't lead to the 5-on-3 breaks or 4-on-3 stuff. We're still trying to grow with Ish's speed and playing fast. I know the reduction of turnovers has let us have a better (outlook) on the game and has helped us on both ends of the floor. You can't understate how cutting down on the turnovers helps us defensively. Injury updates Brett Brown said he wasn't sure whether Nik Stauskas will be able to play Saturday against the Celtics, as he continues to battle a sore shoulder. Brown said all others should be able to go if the game is played. Boston plays at home Friday and is scheduled to fly in here after its game. Should the Celtics be able to get in before the expected heavy snowstorm, the game probably will go on. Dribbles Upcoming games: Who: Boston Celtics at Sixers When: Saturday, 7 o'clock Where: Wells Fargo Center TV/Radio: Comcast SportsNet/The Fanatic (97.5 FM) Game stuff: In Wednesdays loss to the Toronto Raptors, the Celtics went 11-for-19 on three-pointers in the first three quarters, but were only 1-for-7 in the fourth. Who: Phoenix Suns at Sixers When: Tuesday, 7 o'clock Where: Wells Fargo Center TV/Radio: Comcast SportsNet/The Fanatic (97.5 FM) Game stuff: When the Suns lost their fifth consecutive game on Tuesday against the visiting Indiana Pacers, they shot a season-low 34.6 percent from the floor. Devin Booker, 19, has been playing well, averaging 16.9 points a game over his last eight going into Thursday. Who: Sixers at Detroit Pistons When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Where: Palace at Auburn Hills TV/Radio: Comcast SportsNet/The Fanatic (97.5 FM) Game stuff: The Pistons scored their most points in regulation this season in its 123-114 win over the Houston Rockets. Center Andre Drummond set an NBA record in that game by missing 23 of his 39 free throw attempts. By the numbers 93.8: Thats the average point total in regulation for Sixers opponents over the past five games. 104.8: Thats the average point total by teams against the Sixers this season. cooneyb@phillynews.com On Twitter: @BobCooney76 Blog: philly.com/Sixersblog More Coverage Published: January 21, 2016 ?? 6:10 PM EST Philadelphia Daily News





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