Dud: Nick Nurse made some head-scratching decisions
Right from the get-go, the 76ers were already doomed facing a Milwaukee Bucks team that was only missing Khris Middleton. But to make matters worse, Nick Nurse and the coaching staff also made some brow-raising decisions, especially with the starting unit they somehow decided to deploy against such a loaded opponent.
While Philadelphia held its own during the first quarter, the decision to start KJ Martin and Eric Gordon quickly backfired, with both players finishing the game with a combined two points. Jared McCain scored more in 33 less minutes.
The decision to start Martin was especially puzzling. The undersized combo forward, who only has athleticism going for him, unsurprisingly failed to move the needle against an oversized Bucks frontcourt. His continuous negligibility on offense also cannot be stated enough.
Meanwhile, Gordon suffered from the lack of defensive leeway he can exploit. At his age, he cannot be counted on to be an igniter anymore. He’s likely going to continue to start games with Nick Nurse still testing things out at the shooting gaurd position, but the coaching staff should seriously consider, say, opening games with Ricky Council IV instead.