When the Philadelphia 76ers' roster initially took a hit, the team did a good job remaining competitive. Unfortunately, things have taken a turn for the worst in their recent stretch. While they've received some reinforcements in the form of Tobias Harris, the Sixers still find themselves on the wrong end of a four-game losing streak.

Being without the services of some key players is taking its toll. After starting the regular season on a high note, the Sixers sit just above .500 with a record of 8-6. There is still some time before the remaining players can return from health and safety protocols, so it will be on the undermanned group to find a way to end the losing skid.

It is no surprise the Sixers have struggled since Joel Embiid was forced to exit the lineup. He is one of the top talents in the league today and the focal point of Doc Rivers' offensive system. But it is not only his dominance on the offensive end the team has missed.

Over the years, the Sixers have established a reputation as a defensive powerhouse. Led by the likes of Embiid and Ben Simmons, Philly was regularly among the NBA's top defenses. Even with Simmons currently away from the team, the All-Star center has done his best to maintain that high level of play on the defensive end.

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Filling the void Embiid has left in the defense is a big ask and something the Sixers have struggled with. Following their loss to the Pacers on Saturday, Tyrese Maxey opened up on not having Embiid and Matisse Thybulle's elite-level defense.

“When you make a mistake, they'll cover it up because they're just special guys. You can go for a gamble and miss it. Matisse will cover up and get a block. Joel's 7-foot at the rim, you get blown by, he's blocking, or he's challenging shots. So, it's hard for offensive players to score on them. We got to be collectively more solid without those guys,” said Maxey.

Embiid and Thybulle are respectfully two of the best defenders in the league at their position. The disruption they cause on that side of the floor is borderline irreplaceable. As Maxey said, the only way to stay afloat is from a collective effort.

Looking at the road ahead, the Sixers will need an elevated collective effort on defense if they want to end their losing skid. With matchups against the Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Golden State Warriors coming up, there is an array of elite-level scorers who will need to be slowed down to have any chance at stealing a victory.

One thing this team has shown is they have no intentions of rolling over. No matter who is available on any night, the Sixers intend to give every opponent their best shot. Between the newfound togetherness of this group and the competitive spirit they've shown on a nightly basis, they will certainly do whatever it takes to get by until the roster is back to full strength.