Philly's playoff push ignites debate. Are Nurse's late-game stumbles and player management truly a fireable offense, or is the situation more complex?
With the Philadelphia 76ers in the middle of a tight playoff race, questions have started to emerge about whether head coach Nick Nurse should be on the hot seat in the coming weeks. While some criticisms are valid, the reality is far more nuanced.
On the surface, the frustration is understandable. The Sixers have had games where their execution down the stretch has cost them. The most recent display of this was their collapse on March 30th against the Miami Heat. Philadelphia led 107-103 late with just a few minutes remaining, but Miami responded with a 14-0 run to steal the game.
Nurse has also faced criticism for overplaying his star players, even when resting them would be the wiser move. The biggest example of this comes from star guard Tyrese Maxey, who injured his pinky and missed an extended amount of time during a March 7th game against the Atlanta Hawks. Maxey was still in the game with just under 30 seconds left when the injury happened. Some say that the game was still in reach, while others say there was no chance of a comeback with so little time remaining.
On the other hand, Nurse has done a good job with what he has had.
Injuries and absences have plagued the Sixers throughout the season. Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid have all missed extended amounts of time due to injury or suspension, forcing constant adjustment to the rotation. Despite that, Nurse has been able to get a lot out of other players to make up for the missing stars. Trendon Watford has performed well off the bench as an energy big, and Justin Edwards has been great as a floor spacer. Most impressive of them all has been VJ Edgecombe; the rookie has hit the ground running this season, and it's partially thanks to Nurse trusting him to produce.
Nurse has also done a good job implementing offensive systems that allow stars to play at their best.
Tyrese Maxey has been fantastic under Nurse, as the coach has implemented a system built around Maxey's athleticism and downhill scoring by running a lot of DHO sets and empty side pick and rolls.
Joel Embiid's skillset is maximized by Nurse when he is on the court, by letting the big man get the ball in the post and free-throw line areas and allowing him to be the primary offensive hub of the team. Philly's offense looks great. When Embiid has been on the court, the 76ers have a 119 offensive rating, which would rank as the third-best offense in the NBA over an entire season.
Overall, while Nurse's tenure this season has not been without flaws, it is unlikely that the Sixers will move on from him in the immediate future. Philadelphia's front office has historically shown patience with its coaching staff, and Nurse has been tasked with navigating an injured roster.
More likely, he will be given another season. If the Sixers fall short again, then the conversation around his job security becomes much more serious.
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Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at dixonwesley286@gmail.com.