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Sixers 'ready to go' against Detroit Pistons

The Sixers are looking to reduce fouls, cut down turnovers and perform better in pick-and-roll.

The Philadelphia 76ers’ Brett Brown talks with Ben Simmons (25) and Joel Embiid, right, before action against the Washington Wizards at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017. The Wizards won, 120-115.
The Philadelphia 76ers’ Brett Brown talks with Ben Simmons (25) and Joel Embiid, right, before action against the Washington Wizards at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017. The Wizards won, 120-115.Read more(Steven M. Falk/Staff Photographer)
    by Keith Pompey | Columnist
    Published 

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. – The 76ers looked like a team that would have happily faced the Detroit Pistons here at Seaholm High School in 11:30 a.m. Monday.

Joel Embiid had a rigid look on his face while sitting alone in the Seaholm bleacher after the team's shootaround concluded around 11:15. J.J. Redick was also "mean-mugging" when approached by a reporter.

The guard responded, "I'm ready to go."

So are all of the Sixers.

The 0-3 team is looking for its first victory in Monday's 7 p.m. matchup against the Pistons at Little Caesars Arena.

That's why Monday morning's shootaround had an element of "let's get going," coach Brett Brown said.

The team focused on committing fewer fouls, cutting down turnovers and improving their pick-and-rolls – areas that could enable them to achieve their first victory. They also had a candid conversation about what they witnessed on the game film of Saturday's 128-94 loss to the Toronto Raptors.

The Sixers saw "a lack of discipline on being lifted on up-fakes," Brown said of the game film. "We fouled too much. I thought we did that against the Celtics."

Against Boston, the Sixers committed four fouls on players attempting three-pointers. Then on the next night, DeMar DeRozan attempted 16 foul shots against the Sixers, making 14 of them.

"It's easy to talk about turnovers," said Brown, whose squad averages 17.7 per games.

Some of the turnovers were attributed to sloppy play. However, the Sixers were also doomed by lifting their pivot foot and split-step travels against the Raptors. Brown also wants the team to improve in the pick-and-roll.

So pay attention to see if the Sixers show improvement in those areas Monday night against the Pistons.