The Philadelphia 76ers cannot put too much stock in the preseason, but they ought to be careful in assessing the aftermath of their most recent match against the Boston Celtics. After all, the latter just handed them an important lesson on what could very well be their most glaring issue right now as a team –– securing boards and staying competent in the rebounding battle.
Boston outrebounded Philly 63 rebounds while the latter could only corral 34. The Celtics nearly beat the 76ers by 40, and while even that result should not be a big cause for concern, that rebounding difference should be something the coaches closely monitor with the regular season already within arm's reach.
The 76ers just got a huge reminder of their unresolved rebounding issue
The 76ers did not have most of their big men, but securing boards has nevertheless been a big issue for the 76ers in recent years. Last season, it ended up being their most vulnerable area. They were a bottom-third team in rebounding percentage, and their defensive rebounding was even worse, ending their campaign as the fifth-worst squad in that department.
Philly entered the offseason with the front office expressly admitting that rebounding will be a point of emphasis, but the team did not really bring in an outright fix to that problem. In fact, they even lost their best rebounder in free agency when Andre Drummond went on to sign with the Knicks after the 76ers did not pursue him aggressively.
Kelly Oubre Jr., their best rebounding perimeter player last season, also left the 76ers as a free agent and instead signed with the Pacers. His ability to go after boards willingly will definitely be missed, especially now that Philly has even smaller players on their roster.
Right now, Joel Embiid might just the best rebounder the 76ers have –– a grim proposition given that the superstar's vertical leap and laterals have visibly declined. Adem Bona and Dominick Barlow are not strong rebounders, either. Jabari Walker could actually edge Embiid as a board crasher, but he is a tad too undersized to be banked as the go-to rebounder in certain lineup configurations. Ariel Hukporti –– a true and blue seven-footer –– is not out for the season after his brutal Achilles injury.
The Celtics boast a physically imposing frontcourt, but they are not the only team with that kind of personnel. Just in the East alone, the 76ers will be dealing with squads boasting strong rebounders. Now, if they get perennially crushed in the boards, both their offense and defense will surely operate with a much smaller margin of error. As such, the team has to take their latest preseason loss as a strong reminder of the work they have to do in the rebounding department.
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