On the Beat: Sixers Aim to Adjust Against Magic

ORLANDO – The 76ers took a couple steps forward in their 103-94 loss to the Washington Wizards on Friday.  Now, they’ll try to take a few more Sunday night, against an Orlando Magic team that bested them 124-115 this past Tuesday at The Center. “The thing that hurt us the last time that we played them was that we had some poor transition defensive efforts, communication with [Orlando point guard Elfrid] Payton,” said Brown on Sunday morning, following the Sixers’ shootaround at Amway Center.  “That happened a few times [Friday] night with maybe the league’s fastest guard in [Washington’s] John Wall.  I hope to get better there.” In Tuesday’s pairing with the Magic, the Sixers were outdone 20-14 in fastbreak points.  Orlando’s 28-13 advantage in points off turnovers also reflected its success in transition.  Furthermore, the attacking pressure that the Magic applied on the Sixers resulted in trips to the free throw line.”That last Orlando game we fouled too much,” Brown said.  The Magic went 35 for 41 from the stripe on Tuesday.  The Sixers, by comparison, were 19 for 26.  “How you play with energy and still move your feet, show your hands, and aware of when teams are in the bonus.  You just have to be a little bit smarter on how you move your feet and show your hands.  Those things all come to mind.”Payton, whose impact Brown specifically highlighted, wasn’t the only player who presented problems for the Sixers.  So too did Nik Vucevic.  The fifth-year center racked up 35 points, while hitting 13 of 21 field goal attempts.”I think Vucevic did his work early, and got deep catches in the post,” Brown said.   “I thought our post defense against him was average, at best.  I think, in general, he’s a hard guard because he can step out and shoot it.  Collectively, as a team, we have to do a better job on him.”Nerlens Noel has been drawing defensive assignments at center for the Sixers in recent weeks, and will likely maintain those duties for the better part of the rest of this season.  He recognizes he and the Sixers must make adjustments in facing Vucevic for the second time in six days. “Definitely getting on him early,” said Noel.  “Not let him get going early in the first quarter.  Just make sure we’re keeping him off the boards, and definitely contesting his jump shot.”Vucevic dropped 12 points on the Sixers in Tuesday’s opening period.  As for the factors that allow Vucevic to be a difficult cover, Noel said, “The variety of ways he can score around the basket and shoot that little mid-range.  There are a couple things we have to take care of.”After holding the Washington Wizards, the 11th-most accurate shooting team in the NBA, to 42.6 percent from the field on Friday, Noel believes the Sixers were able to establish some defensive momentum heading into Sunday’s season series finale with Orlando. “I definitely feel we got shades of our defensive intensity back, with just being gritty, getting in the passing lanes, blocking some shots, and communicating a little better,” said Noel.  “I think that helped us get on the right path, and we just got to follow it up with consistent play [Sunday.]”