Last season, the Sixers were ninth lowest in opponents’ field goal percentage, holding teams to 45 percent shooting. And their 14 forced turnovers per game ranked the 13th in the league.

Eight days before their regular season schedule opens Collins has his guys thinking “next level” defensively.

“We would like to get a few more deflections and get in the open court,” Collins said after Sunday’s practice. “The other night at the half we had 19. We set a goal to get 35 a game and if we do that means we are active, disruptive, pressure the ball and it is hard for teams to just come down and throw the ball in the post against you.”