PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers have slid in the Eastern Conference standings since losing Joel Embiid to a meniscus injury. They were once third in the East but have fallen to fifth.
However, the Sixers swung deals at the deadline to acquire sharpshooter Buddy Hield and add the reliable Cam Payne to their bench. The Sixers have won two in a row following a stretch of eight losses in nine games.
If there is one guy equipped to lead the team at the moment, it’s coach Nick Nurse, who has a vote of confidence from President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey.
“He’s almost uniquely, among NBA head coaches, set up to handle this,” said Morey. “I know we’re licking our wounds right now. Right now, we’re just trying to win a game tonight, let’s be real, but I’ve been with Nick through lots of player moves and injuries, and I have the utmost confidence that he’ll have the game plan, he’ll put the work in.”
Nurse is a mad scientist when it comes to schemes. He will try almost everything to win, and the Sixers have been prepared heading into every matchup due to his competitive nature and ability to adjust on the fly.
“Honestly, because he preps so hard and he takes the losses so hard, it’s like, ‘Let’s keep him positive.’ He doesn’t take losing well,” Morey added of Nurse. “None of our players do; no one does, but I feel like he takes it especially hard. He goes in every night saying, ‘You give me the troops, I’ll make it work.’ The reality of the NBA is if you don’t have your big dogs, it’s going to be hard, but he takes it hard.”
Nurse and the Sixers look to stay afloat until the big fella returns. He will be reevaluated in early March after undergoing a procedure on Feb. 6.
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