The Sixers are trying to figure out their personnel and plans behind Joel Embiid. It’s far from the first time. 

In many previous seasons, the Sixers have fared dramatically worse with Embiid off the floor. That trend hasn’t changed in the very early days of the 2026-27 campaign. 

Through four games, according to Cleaning the Glass, the Sixers’ net rating has been a whopping 41.7 points better with Embiid on the court compared to off it. As Embiid watched on the second night of a back-to-back, the Sixers dropped to 3-1 on Sunday by falling to the Pistons.

No numbers are worth any deep scrutiny yet. Still, the backup center spot and defensive rebounding were valid, overlapping concerns going into the season. The Sixers haven’t had great starts in either area. 

“If you’re missing some of your size … it obviously becomes a problem and all five guys have to rebound,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said Sunday. “I look at the numbers there and the defensive rebounding, no matter the position, just isn’t good enough. So everybody has to chip in with a few more. That’s got to be the answer for sure.”

From guard to center, the Sixers will need more to avoid another season as one of the NBA’s bottom defensive rebounding teams.

“Boxing out, going to get the ball aggressively,” Anfernee Simons said Tuesday. “Obviously, having tall guys (available) does help. I think it’s going to be a collective thing. … We can try to mitigate the struggles of maybe not having some big guys out there. We’ve just got to be extra tough to be able to withstand that.” 

Adem Bona’s work on the glass against Detroit was a significant positive. 

The third-year big man played his best game of the young season, recording six points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. Continued good minutes by Bona would simplify Nurse’s decisions. 

“I think the biggest thing I’m happy about is Bona played more like we’re used to seeing,” Nurse said following Tuesday’s practice. “We probably would’ve went that way if that body of work had been in front of him. It’s easy to say when you’re looking back on it, that you would’ve made some other moves and all that kind of stuff. And listen, we’ve had some amazing moments with LeBron (James) at the five, so I’m going to draw from those.”

Instead of Bona, Nurse started James at center and the Sixers sunk into a 15-1 hole. 

James is capable of sliding up to the five, but he doesn’t expect to do it much.

“S—, we have the (former) MVP over here,” James said postgame, pointing toward Embiid’s locker. “I’m not here to have a sustainable role at the five. You’ve got Joel Embiid on the team. … It’s a role that we know we can tap into. I know I can play one through five offensively and defensively. But a sustainable role playing the five? I don’t think that’s it.”

Aspects of the Sixers’ Embiid-less play should improve with reps and sharper role definition. Whether it’s Bona, James, Dean Wade or another alternative at center, the team should fine-tune its principles over time. 

“I think the biggest thing is with Process, we play a lot of five-out because it’s good for us,” Tyrese Maxey said Sunday. “When we go small ball, it would be good for us to play in a little bit of a different way. Maybe four out, one in. Create some driving lanes with Dean or Bron or somebody else off the top of the key just in case (Jaylen Brown) or somebody wants to crash the paint or something like that. 

“We’re going to figure it out. I think it was game four. I’m not too worried about that.”

Jake Fischer reported Tuesday that the Sixers have applied for a disabled player exception after center Ariel Hukporti suffered a right Achilles tendon tear in the preseason opener.

Since the Sixers are hard capped at the first luxury-tax apron, it currently appears they won’t have the ability to add a player until December (outside of potential two-way contract shuffling).

Tacko Fall, who received the Sixers’ third and final two-way slot, has been out with a left quadriceps strain and won’t be available Wednesday night when the Sixers visit the Pacers. Fellow center options Jabari Walker (left knee soreness) and Dominick Barlow (lower back stress reaction) will remain sidelined as well. The 7-foot-6 Fall did return to practice Tuesday as a full participant, a team official said. VJ Edgecombe practiced and was off the Sixers’ injury report after missing Sunday’s game with an abdominal contusion. 

Embiid, who posted a 28-point triple-double vs. the Bucks his last time out, also looks set to play. 

The Sixers will certainly welcome him back into the lineup.