PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers have set out to be a better rebounding team in the 2026-27 season after some struggles in that area in previous seasons. They have capable rebounders on this roster, but with the injuries to some of their frontcourt players, it has been a struggle area to begin the season.
After being destroyed on the glass 54-37 in Sunday's loss to the Detroit Pistons, the Sixers have been out-rebounded in all four games to begin the season:
- Oct. 20 @ Knicks: Lost rebounding edge 53-45
- Oct. 22 vs. Cavaliers: Lost rebounding edge 46-44
- Oct. 24 vs. Bucks: Lost rebounding battle 62-39
Of course, the Sixers didn't have LeBron James in the matchup with the Bucks and didn't have Joel Embiid against the Pistons along with Jabari Walker, Tacko Fall, and Dominick Barlow. That is a huge reason for the issues in that area, but the rebounding disadvantage has to be figured out.
"Some of our tall guys to come back," laughed Tyrese Maxey. "That would be great. Nah, but we just gotta hit, man. We gotta hit, box out, try to fight, man. We gotta figure it out. The ball comes off the rim. Got to do whatever we gotta do to get that rebound. A couple times, couple possessions today where we could have got a rebound and probably cut the lead to two or zero. So we’ll figure it out. We're a tough, competitive group, so I'm not too worried about that either."
In the loss to the Pistons, they allowed Cade Cunningham, Daniss Jenkins, Paul Reed, Ron Holland II, and John Collins all grab eight or more rebounds. Basketball can really come down to the little things at times and the Pistons did a better job of doing those little things on Sunday than the Sixers. Yes, they are missing a lot of size and length, but Philadelphia must find a way to remedy that area as it moves forward.
"We've got to do it by committee," said coach Nick Nurse. "I mean, I think if you're missing some of your size and all that kind of stuff, obviously it becomes a problem. And all five guys got to rebound. And I just look at the numbers there and the defensive rebounding from just across the board, no matter position, just aren't good enough. So it's like, everybody's got to chip in with a few more. That's got to be the answer, for sure."
When one asks LeBron James, he has a simple solution. He recalled a classic March Madness moment when current Pistons forward Taurean Prince explained the art of rebounding while he was playing at Baylor.
"In the great words of Taurean Prince, who I saw tonight on the bench, a good friend of mine," James stated while laughing. "The ball is in the air, and you grab the ball, and that's a rebound."
Only four games in, and the Sixers will get healthy, but until they do get their big guys back, the group needs to find a way to rebound the basketball and seal defensive possessions as it moves forward.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Tyrese Maxey, other 76ers address rebounding struggles to begin season