Philadelphia 76ers struggle on the glass without Joel Embiid

The Philadelphia 76ers found themselves chasing a deficit on Sunday that stemmed from a single, glaring absence on the defensive end. With center Joel Embiid resting, the team recorded zero defensive rebounds for the first five minutes of play against the Detroit Pistons. By the time Adem Bona secured the first rebound at the 6:56 mark, Detroit had built a 20-5 lead largely through second-chance opportunities.

The gap in the frontcourt has become a central challenge for the squad as it navigates the early part of the 2026-27 season. Head coach Nick Nurse started a small lineup featuring LeBron James at center. Despite the height available, the Pistons exploited the space, forcing the 76ers to play catch-up for the remainder of the night.

The statistical record through four games reflects the difficulty. The Sixers currently sit 16th in defensive rebounding percentage, a metric that measures the share of available defensive rebounds a team secures. This ranking underscores the pressure on the roster to secure the ball after missed shots, a task that becomes more complex when playing without traditional big men.

Nurse acknowledged the issue during practice on Tuesday, noting that the team often forces opponents into difficult, late-clock shots. While that strategy leads to misses, the Sixers must capitalize on those misses. Nurse emphasized that every player must be alert to chase the ball once a shot is contested.

Jabari Walker, who is recovering from left knee soreness, spoke to the mental toll of facing elite offensive rebounders. He described the anxiety of preparing for opponents like Andre Drummond or Mitchell Robinson. Walker said he sometimes loses sleep before games where he knows he must guard a dominant center, planning to hit his opponent early to disrupt their rhythm.

The team is awaiting the return of several injured players. Dominick Barlow, Tacko Fall, and VJ Edgecombe have been missing recent action. Edgecombe, who averaged a high rebound total in his last appearance against Milwaukee, practiced in full on Tuesday. Fall also participated in full practice, offering a potential near-term solution for the frontcourt depth.

LeBron James joked about the simplicity of rebounding after the loss, quoting former teammate Taurean Prince. James recalled Prince's advice that a rebound is simply grabbing the ball when it is in the air. While the mechanics are straightforward, executing them against physical opponents requires consistent effort from the starting whistle.

Guard Tyrese Maxey stressed the need for the team to commit fully to the boxout. He noted that the ball coming off the rim is a certainty, and the team must do whatever is necessary to secure it. The 76ers are drilling the technique in practice and reviewing film, aiming to correct the early-game lapses before they become insurmountable deficits.

The Pistons' success on the offensive glass highlighted the vulnerability of the current rotation. Drummond, a former Sixers player, collected six offensive rebounds in the first half of their earlier matchup. That performance serves as a benchmark for the level of threat the 76ers face against teams with skilled glass cleaners.

Nurse stated that the team is capable of fixing the problem. He indicated that the coaching staff will continue to show video clips and run drills until the players execute the rebounding fundamentals from the start of games. The focus remains on establishing a culture of accountability on the defensive end while the frontcourt recovers.