CAMDEN, N.J. -- The Philadelphia 76ers are dealing with some injuries to the backup center spot at the moment as Ariel Hukporti is out for the season while Adem Bona is also dealing with a foot issue. Then there is Dominick Barlow who is dealing with a back issue at the moment.
Therefore, coach Nick Nurse will have to turn to Dean Wade and Jabari Walker as some small-ball 5 options at the moment until the Sixers can at least get Bona back from his injury. Both Wade and Walker are viable options at that spot as both players are physical, smart, can shoot it a bit, and are productive, and the Sixers will need everything they can give them off the bench.
"They've both played pretty good," Nurse said of his two backup big men at the moment. "I think
Jabari has played outstanding, actually. Dean, you've seen, he's a really good player. He's kind of multi-faceted guy that can, we've talked about what he can do. He can guard, he can pop. He can guard multiple positions, he can rebound really well for his position. I think those guys have done a nice job and that's where we'll start, if we have to, at backup 5."
An issue could be rebounding as that will be something to watch out for in early matchups with the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers who are two large teams on the frontline, but they can produce in other areas and make things happen for Philadelphia.
"It looks like they both, kind of, are capable," Nurse added. "I guess we'll see. I think it matters who we match up with and all that kind of stuff and who we're playing. That will determine how it goes down, but we're pretty happy with the jump Jabari's taken, confidence-wise, and we're really happy with the player that Dean is."
At the end of the day, rebounding will be a team challenge. While Wade and Walker will play the 5 off the bench, Nurse will be looking to everybody to do their jobs and help the bigs get the job done.
"Everybody's got to take care of their guy, and then you make reads on who's getting back," Nurse finished. "Kind of your rollers can get in there and help if your guy's back and you don't have anybody to take care of, and all that kind of stuff. But then it changes a little bit. There's certain bigs that are such a handful that you absolutely have to send, kind of, somebody from the outside to try to rebound over the top of them and things like that. So, a little bit of game planning on that, depending on who you're playing."
The Sixers will finish the preseason on Friday when they host the Boston Celtics.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Nick Nurse assesses Sixers small-ball center options amid injuries
