The Philadelphia 76ers just witnessed one of their biggest rivals, the New York Knicks, recapture glory for the first time in decades and win the NBA championship. In yet another classic comeback in Game 5, the latter rallied to defeat the formidable San Antonio Spurs. What makes their title run all the more impressive is that they did it with Mike Brown coaching them for the first time, instantly cementing him in their history books.
Now that the 76ers have seen what a coaching change can do to a team, what in the world is stopping them from moving on from Nick Nurse? That think piece should definitely evoke strong consideration from the new lead decision-makers for the franchise. After all, the veteran tactician has not fared as well as expected so far in his stint in Philly.
Before hiring Brown, the Knicks have enjoyed a lot of success with their former head coach in Tom Thibodeau. A highly esteemed figure in the coaching ranks, Thibs managed to lead New York to four playoff berths since taking over. Under his watch, his squad made it to the Conference Finals once and to the semis twice, yet he was jettisoned after their playoff exit last year –– a daring move that caught a lot of people off-guard.
The 76ers should seriously consider moving on from Nick Nurse
If someone like Thibodeau, who enjoyed meaningful success in the playoffs with the Knicks, could get fired after a Conference Finals appearance, then there should be very little reason for the 76ers not to do the same with Nurse, who has been outright underwhelming since stepping foot in Philly.
Since coming over from the Raptors, Nurse has failed to leave his mark on the team. While he cannot possibly be faulted for the injuries and other extracurriculars that have prevented the group from getting far in the postseason, there are valid reasons as to why his expiry date should have been accelerated.
His in-game management, which was supposedly his biggest strength, has been lackadaisical. He does not trust the bench enough, and his play-calling, especially in crunch time, leaves a lot to be desired. This season, he infamously mothballed Jared McCain amid his struggles, which led to him getting traded. Also, he still has this tendency to resist playing his young guns, especially in high-stake situations.
With Daryl Morey gone, his partner in Nick Nurse should also suffer the same fate. There are a bunch of coaching candidates who are available for hiring, and sticking with a mad scientist like him makes it appear like the moves the franchise made up top were merely half-baked. If the 76ers want to boost their chances at the title, a change in the sidelines should be in order.
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