76ers Coach Nick Nurse Has a Huge Task in Front of Him

It seems that the Philadelphia 76ers are the betting favorites to win it all. What’s even more surprising is the amount of support the team is getting from its fanbase.

Following an impactful and rather shocking offseason that saw the team trade for Jaylen Brown and sign LeBron James, it has many fans ready for the season. Fan optimism has reportedly reached new heights as they received an 9 out of 10 for what they’ve done, according to a Yahoo report for offseason grades. 

But with the season vastly approaching, one has to wonder, how will the fans react if they underperform? It’s likely that the result won’t end well for all involved. Of course you’re going to have your typical criticism of how the players underperformed, but what about the coaching?

Nick Nurse was brought in to bring a championship. He’s done it for the Toronto Raptors, who had Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowery along with Serge Ibaka. Those three made the team a powerhouse in 2019. Now, Nurse is being asked to do it again. Only this time, his roster is far more talented. Last season, Nurse fell into the same trap as all the other coaches before him. He had a second-round exit with a team that struggled throughout most of the season.

This season is hoping to be a different story. Joel Embiid has now reached the point in his career where it’s time to put up or shut up. He’s not getting any younger, and the championship is the last thing to add to his resume. For James, well, it’s more about respect and getting that fifth championship under his belt. 

If Nurse has all these weapons at his disposal and he can’t get the job done, his seat may be more than hot. Having Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and a young player like VJ Edgecombe has to make your job the easiest on the planet. So it’s only right for the fans to be more excited than they have been in quite some time.

That’s why this season has so much pressure built into it. If the team can’t do what needs to be done, there will be some serious reshuffling. With that in mind, even if the players have an injury-riddled season, it won’t matter.

This team is composed of players that are able to withstand an injury or two. What this roster can’t handle is multiple stars going down around the same time. If it comes down to Nurse, he’ll have to make the right decision to allow his team to remain healthy and help get another championship.