The Sixers’ inadequate center depth was on full display in their 123-91 loss to Boston<\/a> in Game 1. Neither Bona nor Drummond scored more than three points, and both struggled to hold their own defensively. <\/p>\n The Celtics present a matchup issue that the Sixers\u2019 frontcourt can’t overcome, especially if Embiid isn’t able to play in the series.<\/p>\n \u201cNot getting off to a great start, offensively,” Nurse told reporters after the game. \u201cGetting in some foul trouble with both bigs, etc. <\/p>\n “So, the first quarter, obviously, was moving past us pretty quick, and we just didn’t do enough at either end to get in and settle into the game. I thought from the second quarter to about midway through the third, we finally got ourselves underneath us a little bit and played pretty good basketball, but the minutes around that was absolutely unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n Bona entered the game coming off a three-block performance in Philadelphia\u2019s 109-97 win against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. But he did not build on that outing, as his fouling issues persisted.<\/p>\n The sophomore was out of position when guarding Neemias Queta out of pick-and-rolls, failing to recover. Bona recorded three personal fouls, including an offensive foul while driving in transition, which just cannot happen.<\/p>\n The Celtics shot 63% on two-pointers, and Bona\u2019s contributions to the Sixers\u2019 poor rim protection was a factor. Although Bona has more upside than Drummond, he has yet to establish consistency, which has made it difficult for Nurse to consistently rely on him. That\u2019s why he turned to the 32-year-old entering the third quarter, but he was not flawless either.<\/p>\n Drummond\u2019s well-documented inability to guard in space reappeared Sunday. While Nikola Vu\u010devi\u0107 had only three points, his floor-spacing ability pulled Drummond out of the paint, which gave the Celtics additional driving room. Boston also exploited his immobility off the point of attack, generating advantages that led it to shoot 16-of-44 from beyond the arc.<\/p>\n The Sixers\u2019 frontcourt rotation was not the sole reason they lost in the fashion they did, but losing in the margins is how playoff series are determined. Drummond will have his moments like he did against the Magic when he hit two threes, and Bona\u2019s athleticism will pop. But Nurse cannot depend on either for big stretches, especially against a well-oiled machine like Boston.<\/p>\n One of Philadelphia\u2019s biggest needs at the trade deadline was to boost its frontcourt, but the front office did not address it. The Sixers\u2019 inaction is even more glaring as the Atlanta Hawks acquired Jock Landale from the Utah Jazz for cash considerations ahead of the deadline. Landale averaged 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 23 games with the Hawks. <\/p>\n Philadelphia had the ability to do something similar. Instead, it’s noww stuck with insufficient depth to handle games without Embiid.<\/p>\n ESPN’s Jorge Sedano reported<\/a> that Embiid has not restarted basketball activities, and his status for this series looks unlikely ahead of Game 1. If Philadelphia remains without Embiid, it cannot look to its bigs to provide relief. <\/p>\n The Sixers are nearing dark times, indeed.<\/p>\n Sign up for our free newsletter<\/a> and follow us on X<\/a> and Bluesky<\/a> for the latest news.<\/p>\n
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