Head coach Nick Nurse discussed the frustrations of a lost year after the Sixers were officially eliminated from postseason contention with Saturday’s loss to Miami (Twitter video link from PHLY Sixers).
“Obviously it’s not anywhere near where we had hoped it would be when we set out this summer and this fall, that’s for sure” Nurse said. “That’s the only thing you can say, it was a super struggle. You know, most of the way I think there was only a couple times of some momentum. Right? December, and there was another I think four- or five-game winning streak in there, too, where you were always holding out hope that the team was playing better and getting some wins and hopefully get some players back.”
That turnaround never came, as the Sixers were plagued by injuries to stars and role players throughout the season. Franchise cornerstone Joel Embiid was limited to 19 games before being declared out for the season in late February. Top free agent addition Paul George appeared in 41 games before he was ruled out for the season in mid-March. Tyrese Maxey was active for 52 games, but he hasn’t played since March 3 due to a sprained finger and probably won’t return this season.
Injury issues affected virtually the entire roster, as Philadelphia got just 40 games out of Andre Drummond, 39 from Eric Gordon and 33 from Kyle Lowry. Rookie guard Jared McCain was lost after 23 games due to a meniscus tear following a promising start.
Tonight marked the Sixers’ 50th different starting lineup in 74 games, notes Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel (Twitter link), with Justin Edwards, Guerschon Yabusele, Adem Bona, Quentin Grimes and Jared Butler opening the game.
“It just didn’t seem like the injury bug would ever leave us,” Nurse said. “It just seemed like every time we’d have a good game it would cost us a player or two for the next one. We never could build any momentum.”
The good news for the Sixers is that tonight’s defeat, combined with Brooklyn’s win, drops them a half-game behind the Nets and gives them the fifth-worst record in the league. Philadelphia’s first-round pick in this year’s draft is top-six protected and will convey to Oklahoma City if it falls outside that range.
The 23-51 Sixers have now dropped seven straight and 24 of their last 28. Five of their final eight games are against teams under .500, starting with Sunday’s home contest against Toronto.
Officially eliminated when extended Embiid and signed PG13. Actually my bad. Officially eliminated when drafted Embiid. Who is Embiid blaming for this abysmal season? Can he still blame Brown, Simmons, Doc etc. As a Boston fan I laigh at this rivalry and won’t be sad if OKC get the no.7 pick, lol.
He’s just a crybaby
Hmm…It was an interview with Nurse, not Embiid. Where did you get the idea that Embiid is blaming someone else?
Why do these coaches all look the same?
Why do all your comments look the same.
Sixers and Spurs management. F-
Maverick’s and Bucks have a F- too
Worst management this year. Need help ?
Comments by u the same
Guy looks like he just threw on pajamas and went to coach an NBA game. NBA at it’s weakest
In no other major sports does the head coach/manager wear a suit from baseball to EFL…
Because of a new age mentality lazy generation. Amateurs everywhere thinking they know everything. I don’t care you cannot dress yourself. Be a professional. Look up anything other than this era in sports. Weakest era of everything
So what back in 1914 Connie Mack wore a suit and a straw hat so we all have too? You gonna go back to wearing swimsuits from then too? Its sports man why on earth should you have to dress like a stock broker?
Also how the F would you know how I dress? You stalking me old man yelling at clouds? Your the same dude that doesnt seem to understand that the avg 10th man on todays roster could be a top 15 player in 90 with the current skill level in the league…
I’m not talking about how you are dressing. I wasn’t insulting you in my post. Unless you are Nick Nurse? Is that you.
People wear a suit to work not pajamas
I’m just saying people need to be more professional and more mature in this time
Skill level of the league is at a all time low but 3pt attempts are up with no game plans
Lol
Post my comment
Baseball managers look like 5th graders when they are 100 years old and wear full uniform…
Weak comment
Reeling in all the keyboard warriors, casuals and trolls
Stop whining.
Say it to me in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s voice and I will
A perfect storm of horrible management and incredibly bad injury luck ( partially due to signing old hobbled players) has led to an epic collapse. The only hope they have is to luck out in the lottery or they can end up with no 1st Round pick.
GS best player ever is Rick Barry
Rick Barry?? I think most people would rank Chamberlain higher than Barry.
Chamberlain was a sixer , his warrior day is a blip
He played 6 seasons with the Warriors, only 4 with the sixers. His 100 point game is hardly a blip.
Sorry Philly sixer
Bill Russell is number 2 all time
But, but, but…He was 6’9″. He was obviously a bad Center…Hell, he probably wouldn’t get drafted until the 2nd round today.
He would be blocking Jokic
“ There’s no denying his accolades. Scoring titles, All-NBA honors, and a coveted MVP trophy are reminders of what Embiid can be at his peak. But beneath those shimmering achievements lies the other constant: his body’s betraOut of over 900 possible games in 11 seasons, Embiid has played in fewer than half. Five campaigns, including his first two years, saw him sidelined for all but a fraction.Even when present, the looming shadow of injury has made every step a precarious gamble.”
—— More than half. So then they go sign another player with serious injury history. I’m all about letting your basketball people handle basketball decisions. As an owner I could never put up with this. How does Morey have a job still.
There is no way in Yell. That I go forward with Enbiid. I fire Morey and get a medical retirement for Embiid. I draft Maluach with the 5th pick. And move on don’t look back. Sixers can’t let these two run them to the ground. If I can get best offer for Embiid. I do it in a heartbeat. Why are you putting up with this …….
link to basketballnetwork.net
The article doesn’t mention the central problem: with 4 more years, $250M remaining on his deal, Embiid is untradable. No GM in basketball will touch him.
With that much money committed to a perennially injured player, 76ers can’t be competitive for 4 more years (which also makes hiring a replacement for a fired Morey difficult.)
The only relief for the Sixers is for Embiid to take a medical retirement, in which case he’d still be paid the full contract value and the 76ers would qualify for the CBA’S “Salary Cap Exclusion via Medical Retirement”, as we saw with Chris Bosh in 2017.
If the 76ers start sounding negative about Embiid’s future availability, it may be a sign that they will force the medical retirement path.
He’s missed more than half his career gms. That should qualify. But you still see what you can get. There are teams that would gamble. Like Sixers did with him. As far as I’m concerned I’m done. Take whatever on a deal. Or just cut ties on medical. Insurance pays the bill. Like article talks about ex players. Time to move on from him. 11 years is enough. Very doable. And silver lining is. They actually have a good shot at Maluach. That seals it for me.
Al – I guess we disagree that there are teams that would gamble. You’re certainly not alone, but I don’t see it — too many surgeries, too many unsuccessful, and now they’re publicly mentioning treatments for microfracture, and, even, that the condition may be degenerative. It’s grim.
In the best case, think Bill Walton on the Celtics. Embiid can’t be close to what he once was because multiple meniscus repair and cartilage removals lead to permanent loss of function (shock absorption, stability, strength, etc) And, playing with heavy pain.
link to forbes.com
For the medical retirement exclusion, independent docs have to make the determination. IIRC, the team has to continue to pay for 1 full year before the exclusion kicks in.
Meniscus is cartlidge. It lubricates the joint. Without it, it is bone on bone.
Teams would definitely try to trade for Joel E. It’s silly to think someone has no trade value just because social media is down on someone. AI is right about that but I disagree with the retirement thing. I think the 76ers have a good young team other than a young C (Bona is 6’9 and don’t say anything about wingspan crap)
Trade Joel E if you can find a really good young C a team would be willing to trade for.
I like the Bill Walton reference. I hope Joel doesn’t get that bad but it’s getting close.
To bad they couldn’t find a young Joel E
I think you still want Embiid and know your Knicks will never win a ring until they have a true big
Don’t say that. They failed with Ewing
Surprised Nurse wasnt thrown under the bus yet