It has been a scintillating start to the new season for the Philadelphia 76ers as they have come out triumphant in all three of their opening fixtures. Despite the impressive beginning to the campaign, defensive frailties have yet to be addressed by head coach Nick Nurse.
The Sixers' identity with this young, athletic roster is clear: move the ball quickly and prioritise a quick transition offense to put points on the board swiftly. As thrilling as this fast-paced brand of basketball has been to watch, it has left the 76ers exposed defensively -- especially in transition.
Philadelphia's defensive rating highlights issues
Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe have already established themselves as one of the deadliest backcourts in the entire NBA, but common sense would suggest that at least one of the duo will see their scoring dry up at some point during the year. This will require an effective defensive game plan to be in place, ready to prevent the feel-good factor that surrounds this roster from dissipating.
Although Philadelphia's regular-season record currently stands unscathed, with three wins from three games, the franchise languishes at the bottom of the NBA defensive rating standings -- conceding 119.9 points per 100 possessions.
These issues have not occurred due to a lack of effort on the defensive end of the court, but from an apparent lack of communication and leadership when the opponent executes a quick transition offense.
Of course, this discussion is happening at a very early stage of the new campaign. A counterargument that could oppose the worrying defensive rating would be that this set of players is still building chemistry and a sense of cohesion.
Adem Bona has provided a sense of defensive optimism
Adem Bona registered his first start of the 2025-26 season as the 76ers defeated the Orlando Magic by a score of 124-136. Franchise superstar Joel Embiid was rested for Philadelphia's first back-to-back of the season, and Bona showcased that his presence in the paint could be a useful attribute when the 2023 Most Valuable Player is managing his minutes.
Bona's energy and athleticism were there for all to witness as he recorded three emphatic blocks in around five minutes of action against a physical Orlando team. The sophomore rim-protector was the catalyst for two swift counter-attacks that saw VJ Edgecombe add to his sensational rookie points tally.
However, a seemingly inevitable fate for the Turkish center unfolded as his enthusiastic attitude resulted in him being called for two early fouls. Bona must discover a way to limit this foul trouble if he is to become a prominent part of a rotation that is pleading for an elite defensive presence.
Philadelphia 76ers fans will not be overly concerned by a defensive rating statistic as long as this intoxicating, youthful lineup continues to dazzle offensively. Nevertheless, as an age-old saying constantly reminds us, defense wins championships.