The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers: Top reasons why Nick Nurse will elevate the Sixers

By Uriah Young

Oct 8, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse watches game action against the Boston Celtics during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse watches game action against the Boston Celtics during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports /
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – APRIL 18: Head coach Nick Nurse of the Toronto Raptors looks on during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers during Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round at Wells Fargo Center on April 18, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – APRIL 18: Head coach Nick Nurse of the Toronto Raptors looks on during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers during Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round at Wells Fargo Center on April 18, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

Joel Embiid: Top reasons why Nick Nurse will elevate the Sixers

The biggest wildcard in Nick Nurse’s debut season in Philly is also the city’s most prized player. Joel Embiid, the reigning NBA MVP, is primed for another stellar season. This time, without a predictable offense under Doc Rivers, the 76ers All-Star center could experience an epiphany in a new style of offense.

Will Nurse make Embiid more of a facilitator like Marc Gasol in Toronto? Everyone has seen Embiid dominate the league in the scoring columns, but what could Nurse do with his MVP center that nobody has seen yet? The possibilities are intriguing and exciting at the same time.

In the 2018-2019 season, Gasol raised his assist average higher than any time in his long career. His 4.7 assists per game that year helped the Raptors make a title run all the way to the promised land. Will Joel Embiid add a new notch to his already full belt of skills? Again, it will be fascinating to see how Embiid’s game will shift with Nurse as head coach.

No matter if James Harden is here, this is still Embiid’s team. It will be up to Nurse and his staff to create a system that will maximize the talents of everyone on the roster.

Danuel House, Jr. has already been on record distinguishing his new coach from the former, lauding a scheme that has players sharing the ball more. Should Embiid lead the Sixers from a new vantage point as a defensive specialist with more passing opportunities on offense, Philly fans can expect to see a new type of basketball that could reap greater benefits than in the past.