FORT COLLINS, Colo. — The Philadelphia 76ers have a new voice leading them in the 2023-24 season, Nick Nurse. He takes over the head coach’s job after the team spent three seasons under Doc Rivers.
The Sixers won a great many games under Rivers. They were the No. 1 seed in the 2021 playoffs for the first time since 2001, and Rivers changed a great deal about the organization. However, the team was ousted in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs in three consecutive seasons.
Nurse is here to help Philadelphia get over that hump and reach the finals for the first time since 2001. He is introducing a different style. Under Rivers, the Sixers ran a lot of pick-and-roll between James Harden and Joel Embiid. Under Nurse, the offense is expected to be more free-flowing and offer more ball movement. That prospect excites Embiid.
“I love it and we all love it,” beamed Embiid. “I think this is the best way to win and I’ve always believed that. I never liked the idea of just being a scorer. I like to do everything on the basketball court. I want to be a playmaker. I want to score. I want to get my guys involved. I want to get them open.”
It isn’t like Rivers limited Embiid to just pick-and-rolls in the past. He would have the big fella at the nail, and he would run some offense through his star big man. Under Nurse, it appears Embiid will play more of a point-center role.
“The way we’ve been playing, the system in place that we’re working, it might take a while, but once we figure it out, we’re gonna be fine, but it’s fun,” Embiid added. “It’s fun playing with the ball, moving the ball side-to-side, everybody touching it, that means everybody’s happy.”
Embiid also subscribes to the theory that if a player is touching the ball on the offensive end and they are involved, they will give more on the defensive end. The Sixers will be looking for more players who contribute on both ends of the floor in the 2023-24 season and maybe Nurse’s style gets them doing just that.
“Most importantly, on the other end, everybody does their job because they’re seeing the ball, they’re touching the ball, even if they’re not shooting, at least they have the ball in their hands,” Embiid explained. “So I think everybody’s buying in and I love it because that’s the way I love playing just moving the ball and getting everybody involved.”
Embiid and the Sixers will begin the preseason on Sunday on the road against the Boston Celtics.
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