DETROIT -- As the Philadelphia 76ers move forward in the 2026-27 season, the goal and the focus will be on getting everybody on the same page in an effort to build chemistry and cohesion. The starting lineup has the potential to be one of, if not the best, in the history of the game, but they also have a solid bench unit to help fill in the gaps.
The bench unit didn't produce a ton of points in Wednesday's 112-106 win over the Detroit Pistons, but they stepped in and provided excellent defensive work. Dean Wade, especially, did a terrific job against Pistons star Cade Cunningham as he forced him into some tough looks. This isn't anything new for Wade, but getting him to step in and give Philadelphia good production on both ends of the floor was
fantastic.
"I mean, obviously Cade is an extremely tough matchup for anybody," said LeBron James after the win. "Dean just gives the size, the mobility. He's very smart. Obviously his IQ is very high. So he's trying to make it tough on Cade. Cade's going to make his shots, he's going to make his plays. He's that damn good. So just trying to make it tough on him. I thought Dean did that a few possessions."
It wasn't just Wade on Wednesday, too. The Sixers received big defensive efforts from Adem Bona, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and even Anfernee Simons a bit off the bench. Those four didn't have a big offensive presence, but they were terrific defensively and it had to be acknowledged.
"Dean’s been coming in, does his job at a very, very high level," said Joel Embiid. "Obviously, his game is beyond the stat sheet, what he does with this team. I think he just changes everything on defense, on offense. He's just a very high IQ basketball player. And then obviously, Ant, to start the season, he's had his moments. And tonight, I thought Bona was -- actually the last couple of games, he's picked it up. He's been great. Extremely proud of him. And KCP is just a veteran, knows how to play. He hit a big shot when they went on their run. Defensively has been great."
There are other options the Sixers can turn to as well with the presence of guys like Jabari Walker and Dominick Barlow once he returns from his back injury.
"So, we got a lot of other options," Embiid finished. "Jabari hasn't really gotten a chance, but that's another one that can really play. Hopefully Dom is back soon and all those guys. So that's a good thing about our team. We got a lot of options. It just depends on who's playing and who's not playing."
In order to win championships in this league, a team has to have depth. It's important to be able to lean on guys like the ones the Sixers have in the early part of the season in order to take pressure off the starters. There are proven champions on this roster and they all know how important depth is for the future.
"I mean, in order for you to be a great team and a complete team, you have to have depth," James added. "You have to have guys that can come in and take pressure off the starters, come in take pressure off the star guys, and be a threat, and we have that. So it's very important for us to continue that."
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Multiple 76ers touch on importance of Dean Wade, bench unit as a whole
