Well, this ought to be interesting.
The Sixers are hiring former Raptors coach Nick Nurse as their head coach. Nurse and Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid will now pair together as the franchise looks to bring Philadelphia a long-awaited championship. The Sixers’ drought has reached 40 years and counting.
They have a history together as playoff foes. Toronto broke Philly’s hearts in the 2019 playoffs with Kawhi Leonard‘s basket that bounced four times on the rim proving to be the dagger. The Sixers had the KO punch last year during the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Nurse will also inherit a very talented young guard in Tyrese Maxey but the rest of the roster is in a state of flux. The Sixers could look to unload Tobias Harris, who is entering the final year of his contract. The bench figures to be revamped too, but the biggest offseason question is whether James Harden will decline his player option. Rumors have persisted for months that Harden wants to return to Houston.
Despite delivering a championship to the Raptors franchise, Nurse had a falling out with the front office. They felt he didn’t develop their bench players sufficiently and overworked his starters. There were also questions about accountability and his relationships with key players.
A fresh start for a talented coach could be the Sixers’ gain. That championship on his resume gives him immediate credibility.
It could also attract a top free agent such as Fred VanVleet, who tweeted out congratulations via an emoji after he heard the news. VanVleet is expected to decline his player option so that he can enter the free agent market. He could be Harden’s replacement.
That brings us to our topic of the day: What do you think of Nick Nurse taking over as the Sixers’ head coach? Did the franchise make the right choice and do you feel Nurse can bring the franchise a long-awaited championship?
Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.
Question: Does Harden want to play for Nurse?
I have heard Rumblings Nurse is not keen on him. But now that Nurse is in will Harden say on his opt in or out. At least can have some idea going forward. I am not big on the process. I know do not want him in Houston. He wanted out so maybe Philly can do something else with him. Houston would be making a huge mistake if took him back
There’s people who think Harden might sign with Phily? Wow. No. Not happening.
I heard Harden is going to Golden State with LeBron HAHAHAHAHA!!!
A better question: does Nurse even want Harden? I say no. Nurse is a winner, Harden is a certified loser, in life and in sports.
FVV or any costly FA for that matter are highly unlikely for the Sixers outside of a S&T and a team wanting Tobias.
That’s tough to do with limited FRPs to trade
Tobias has value as an expiring deal, and also he is actually a decent 3rd fiddle at the 4. But everyone is like just get rid of Harden and sign someone, just letting Harden walk they are at 140M just to fill out the roster. 164M with Harden opting in, and they’d still have a few slots to fill.
They have zero cap flex regardless of what they do with Harden. But if he walks, they lose a 20pt 10 assist guy that they can’t replace.
being an NBA coach has become the most inconsequential position in all of professional sports lol…good luck Nick Nurse the next 2 seasons
Embiid has publicly derided the guy, calling him a whiner etc. Should be an interesting combo.
Embiid cries in public every year when the Sixers inevitably lose or when he gets a boo-boo LOL
Everyone in the medical profession knows the many many times that the NURSE has bailed out the DOC and saved the patient from death.
Still dining out on that one huh
Uhh, as a doctor, I can tell you this doesn’t happen. Other way around, for sure.
Also, agree with Uno, this ‘joke’ is getting a little tired…lol
BULLFEATHERS !!
I can attest to countless instances where the actions of a Nurse prevented the death of a patient had the Doctor’s orders been followed unchallenged.
Perhaps, Doctor, you need better Nurses.
Will Nurse get Philly over the playoff hump. With going deeper anyways. Whether he will get them to even this far next season the conference finals. I did not think Doc could continue.
It won’t make any difference!! Embid will not lead Sixers to win a championship. He’s frail, irrelevant during clutch time. Every time he finds a scapegoat for his mediocrity from Simmons to Doc not to mention his constant flopping.
Two more years before his body falls apart and turns into a Tariq Black.
Nurse was good at experimenting with his rotations and coaching defense. This year was a mess. He doesn’t get a pass for that, but there was blame to go around. Anyhoo that’s the version of him they hope they hired.
Another Moreyon move. Feel sorry for you Philly. I think Raptors have overachieved some yrs with him. Just never saw as a coach who can make difference. Not what Sixers need now. Sixers need Larry Brown the real one. And they go for this ??????
Philly sure loves overrated coaches. I guess nurse is better than Doc but he’s worse than everyone else available.
It’s a shame they have such a dumb front office because I really like Embiid and Harden.
Nurse aint winning a ring without another Kawhi-tier player who has a ring. Embiid is not that, and Nurse isnt good enough in-game to get these guys over the line.
Perhaps if Nurse suited up and came off the bench for them?
100%
I think if they can rest embiid during reg season and sustain a playoff spot and let him play fresh during playoffs… they can win a championship. He’s always playing exhausted and looked injured.
Naa he’s overrated, Embiid is not very good IMO. He’s not a championship caliber leader or player.
I think he could be if they had a real coach that could prepare the team offensively.
Embiid may not win a ship but to say he’s not a very good player is a clown comment.
WTF WHY NICK!?! POVERTY CITY + FRANCHISE
TAKE FVV WITH YOU NICK
Nurse didn’t develop the bench properly? What bench?
Other than Precious and to a lesser extent Boucher, who else did they have on the bench? Porter missed the season, Thad Young looked old when he played, and the rest, sheesh! Banton and Flynn were the only backcourt reserves. The Spurs had better backcourt reserves!
As for position-less ball, he was forced to play it with that roster. Did he not go more traditional once the Raps got Jakob? Was there record not better once they made that trade? Doesn’t that mean he used Jakob and others well after the deal?
I’m not suggesting that Nurse is the world’s greatest coach, but he’s very good, and I have a hard time pointing at him as the reason the Raptors were not good this year. How about the job he did in the Bubble, keeping the Raptors ultra competitive after losing Leonard. Wasn’t he in the running for coach of the year in 2021-22 for leading the Raptors to a surprising 48 wins and the 5th seed in the East?
Who’s the shooting coach for the Raps? That guy should be fired.
he over coaches…always up and screaming instructions from the sidelines… and complain much, he always looks like he is in pain through out the game… a coach should relax… banton may be a good player , maybe we will find out now.