Sixers takeaways: Rebounding and three-point shooting woes are critical in loss

The 76ers must do a better job of rebounding. This version of the Sixers also lacks physicality and has a tough time making three-pointers. That stood out in Wednesday’s 105-95 loss to the struggling Detroit Pistons at the Wells Fargo Center.

Rebounding woes

Andre Drummond says he’s the NBA’s greatest rebounder of all time. And his average of 12.5 rebounds through four games this season is tied for fourth in the league. But as a team, the Sixers (1-3) are tied for 23rd at 42.0 boards per game.

Rebounding woes

And they struggled mightily on the glass against the Pistons (1-4), being outrebounded 49-37. Detroit kept several possessions alive en route to scoring 15 second-chance points. Nick Nurse said the Sixers struggled rebounding on both ends.

Lack of physicality

There was a sequence in the fourth quarter before an inbounds play when Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham started pushing Tyrese Maxey around. That was a moment when Maxey or one of his teammates should have matched his physicality.

Lack of physicality

“You have to be able to use that physicality against them sometimes, which I have done. ... This is the NBA. They are supposed to do that," Maxey said postgame. The Sixers should've been more physical with guards Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.

Three-point shooting struggles

The Sixers have the NBA's worst three-point shooting percentage at 27.7%. On Wednesday, they missed 20 of 28 attempts from deep. “I thought we generated some great looks from three early in the game,” Nurse said after the loss.

Three-point shooting struggles

"When we generate those catch and shoots we’ve got to pull the trigger. ... I think we were hesitant on a lot of stuff," Nurse said. But a lack of accuracy could have led to the hesitation to shoot from deep. They'll need to figure it out."