Have Sixers achieved sufficient to deal with their defensive rebounding drawback?

Have Sixers done enough to address their defensive rebounding problem? initially appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The 2024-25 Sixers will start coaching camp on Oct. 1 in the Bahamas.

As that date approaches, we’ll dive into a number of important subjects for the workforce in Nick Nurse’s second season as head coach.

First, we checked out what the Sixers will be able to depend on this season.

Subsequent up: Have the Sixers achieved sufficient to deal with their defensive rebounding drawback? 

Essentially the most optimistic slant on this query has to start out with Andre Drummond.

By each metric, he’s lengthy been a traditionally elite rebounder. And whereas Drummond will (once more) play behind seven-time All-Star Joel Embiid, he’s used to posting sizable rebounding numbers in backup minutes. He averaged 9.0 rebounds final season with the Bulls in 17.1 minutes per contest.

“I believe that’s why I’m right here — to eradicate lots of these points,” Drummond said in July. “I’m comfortable to be valued in that sense, to see the larger image. Not simply be right here for the season, however see my ability set for the playoffs. I’m excited for that.”

How in regards to the Sixers’ different summer time pickups?

It’s not his calling card, however Paul George has constantly been a good defensive rebounder. Per Cleaning the Glass, Caleb Martin has been barely above league common amongst NBA forwards the final two seasons in defensive rebounding price off missed discipline objectives.

Guerschon Yabusele is an enormous, bodily energy ahead and Ricky Council IV is a powerful, explosive participant who typically rebounded effectively as a rookie. We’ll see how roles and minutes shake out for the Sixers’ bench, however it will be a bit stunning if defensive rebounding have been a weak point for both Yabusele or Council.

As for the pessimistic aspect … veteran guards Eric Gordon and Reggie Jackson haven’t tended so as to add a ton on the defensive glass. Well being allowing, Tyrese Maxey will seemingly lead the Sixers in minutes per sport — he averaged 44.5 final postseason — and the 23-year-old is a 6-foot-2 level guard who ought to generally worth leaking out for potential quick breaks over wholehearted defensive rebounding effort.

Past personnel, there’s stylistic and schematic components to contemplate. Given Maxey’s open-floor presents and the enchantment of early shot-clock mismatches, the Sixers ought to care lots about transition offense. They led the league in transition effectivity final season with 134.8 factors per 100 transition performs, according to Cleaning the Glass.

The Sixers don’t need to be usually outnumbered on the glass or concede uncontested rebounds, however each workforce must make strategic trade-offs. Growing Maxey’s possibilities to run at a backpedaling protection sounds extra promising than asking him to hitch the scrap across the paint for each single defensive rebound.

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse’s defenses received’t all the time be conducive to high-level rebounding. For instance, the Sixers didn’t rebound effectively from their zone vs. the Knicks in the playoffs. Any scramble-heavy or switch-heavy protection comes with its personal rebounding challenges, too.

By and enormous, defenses that power inefficient first pictures (and turnovers) ought to nonetheless make sense for the Sixers. Nonetheless, the workforce ranked 26th last season in defensive rebounding rate after which allowed three Knicks to grab over 20 offensive rebounds across a six-game series. Drummond ought to assist, however the Sixers have to do no matter’s essential to keep away from an identical story for the 2024-25 season.