Joel Embiid is "ready to go" for the 76ers' opener, Nick Nurse said: "Some of those things weren't going on a year ago." Dean Wade, Dominick Barlow and Tacko Fall did not practice. Wade wore a practice jersey anyway. "Shouldn't make any judgments by those jerseys," Nurse said.
Dean Wade turned his ankle "a little bit" in the 76ers' Oct. 16 game, LeBron James said, "but he'll be great." On Joel Embiid, who wasn't healthy with Team USA, James said: "this summer, he's been the most healthy he's been a long time... he's been in all the practices."
Jabari Walker, LeBron James and Dean Wade have played center in 76ers lineups with no true big. James said clean rebounding is the key and "we haven't logged enough minutes with it to know good or bad." Wade turned his ankle Oct. 16; James said "he'll be great."
Dean Wade rolled his ankle late in the first half of the 76ers' preseason game, but Nick Nurse called it "not major concern," saying they were "just cautious because preseason game." Nurse hopes to add "about 3 or 4 players" by Oct. 20: "I don't know if we will or not."
Jabari Walker and Dean Wade are where Nick Nurse will start at backup center with Ariel Hukporti injured, the 76ers coach said at practice. Walker has earned it: "I think Jabari's played outstanding, actually."
Dean Wade said the 76ers are getting players back, without naming who: "hopefully get some reps and kind of get comfortable with each other." Injuries had Wade and Jabari Walker playing center; Walker says a surer shot lets him "space the floor a lot better."
Losing Ariel Hukporti is "a blow for, for the team, especially this early on," Nick Nurse said at 76ers practice. His small-ball center group: Jabari Walker, Dominick Barlow, Dean Wade and Labaron Philon Jr. He'll "probably go with that crew unless something else emerges."
From 76ers practice, Sept. 30: Dean Wade says no plays are installed yet, only base concepts. "We don't have any plays, like nothing." His job: "shoot the ball when I'm open and play defense." With the turnovers their defense can force, "we should be unbelievable in transition."