Making his return to Toronto tonight, Sixers coach Nick Nurse explained why he decided to leave after five years with the Raptors, tweets Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports. Nurse’s time with the organization included a championship in his first season, a Coach of the Year award and a 227-163 record. However, he hadn’t won a playoff series since 2020 and the team’s progress was stagnating.
“It felt like it was time from both sides,” Nurse told reporters before Saturday’s game. “It still feels that way to me, just looking around. I look at them play and they look like they’re playing great and I’m really enjoying coaching this team. So everybody is where they’re supposed to be.”
There were complaints in Toronto that Nurse was overplaying his starters and neglecting player development while pursuing every possible win, writes Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca. Players were also unhappy with the level of communication, Grange adds, with some saying they learned about changes to their roles through the media instead of directly from Nurse.
Nurse was complimentary toward his former team at tonight’s press gathering, saying, “They look good to me. It’s a new coach, a new system and they’re going to need some growth time. But I think in general they seem like they’re playing really hard, they’re playing really well together, they seem really focused and they’re doing a lot of good things.”
There’s more on the Sixers:
- Jalen McDaniels got a much better offer when he decided to leave the Sixers and sign with the Raptors this summer, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link). McDaniels landed a two-year, $9.2MM contract in Toronto, while Philadelphia was only offering a minimum-salary deal. “Yeah, I couldn’t do that, you know?” McDaniels said.
- Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid have shown off a much crisper two-man game early in the season, observes Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports. With James Harden still out of action, the Maxey-Embiid connection has become the focus of Philadelphia’s offense, and Neubeck states that Maxey has become a noticeably better passer over the summer. Neubeck also wonders how much the Sixers’ front office really wants Harden to return, since it would bring a ball-dominant guard into an equation that’s working well without him.
- P.J. Tucker and De’Anthony Melton appear “lost in the shuffle” in Nurse’s offense, Neubeck adds. While Tucker was expected to decline without Harden creating shots for him, Neubeck sees Melton’s slow start as a greater concern. He believes Melton has been miscast as a lead guard when Maxey is on the bench and suggests he would be more comfortable off the ball if the Sixers can sign a backup point guard.
I was surprised the sixers didn’t resign McDaniels but that makes sense if they were only offering the minimum
One twin gets 2 years, $9 million. The other twin gets 5 years, $135 million. Jaden is gonna make Jalen’s entire contract in about 30 games next year.
They’re not twins.
PJ stinks. Just that simple.
Neubeck what are you on about with Melton?
It’s been 2 games, 1 we lost by a single point against arguably the best team in the east when Dame went crazy in the 4th. Then today we beat the Raptors. Melton went off in preseason dropping 28 on something like 8/12 shooting or something ridiculous. He’s starting as the PG and Maxey as the SG. But he’s mainly there as another defender and back up ball handler. As for a back up point guard we have Pat Beverly who’s running that second unit and he’s going to be huge for us this year.
Only part of this article I found interesting is the Sixers only have McDaniels the min. Wish he had respected him a little more and gave him something more substantial even if it was 2 years 7.5 mil or something like that. He’s a solid back up forward and would be great with Kelly and Pat coming off the bench
2/9.2M could honestly be an over pay though. See how the season plays out. I liked him on the Sixers, but paying marginal guys would take away from a big splash next season. Would rather save the cap space.
So why exactly isn’t this team better with Clippers offer …… ???????
They’d have more depth. And more picks to add another piece thru a trade. And still have cap space next yr to sign another big piece. Moreyon …… is not a talent evaluator. He’s a counter. Sixers would be better off with Doc running things. And why is Elton Brand still here. He is part of this mess too.