Last season, the Philadelphia 76ers limped to the finish line, but injuries cannot be the only reason as to why they managed to turn in just 24 wins against 58 losses, which culminated in them ending their campaign with the fifth-worst record in the entire association. That is as clear as day.
The team’s imperfections were greatly underscored last season just when their main gunners went through a revolving door of injuries — and ceaseless, it was. Their poor roster construction quickly went awry, and their role players were cudgeled into role they were not suited for. The ending, of course, is the squad just being a wreck in most areas.
Ahead of the upcoming campaign, fans and pundits alike are in unison in holding the 76ers in suspense until they get healthier bodies. But again, their success next season will also be determined by their ability to remedy their issues as a collective.
Unfortunately, not a lot of people have paid attention to one, glaring weakness that had derailed them for years — casting a cloud right from the get-go about their viability as a wishful contender next season.
The 76ers completely failed to address their rebounding woes
Last season, the 76ers clocked in as the worst rebounding team in the NBA, averaging just 39.8 boards per outing. The year before that, they were 20th. Yet the front office did nothing to help the team on that end this summer.
Their best rebounder, Andre Drummond, has shown significant signs of decline. While his rebounding prowess subsists, he can no longer be relied on as a one-man wrecking crew on the boards. Ditto for Joel Embiid, who just cannot be counted on to stay on the floor anymore.
The front office had loaded up on the frontcourt, but really, this roster’s main motif is its lack of size across the board, making gang rebounding not a thing with this group. None of the team’s guards and wings are known for being above-average in corralling rebounds, and that could be their downfall next season.
With the Philadelphia 76ers seemingly committing to the idea of playing small-ball lineups, the front office should have done its earnest to help them out in the rebounding category so as not to be exploited on the boards on a nightly basis. Yet here we are, and their weakness on that end will only get more pronounced as the season goes on.