Who would have thought this would be a statement come the start of the Philadelphia 76ers' 2025-26 campaign: Dominick Barlow has established himself as an integral part of the team's rotation. Making Sixers head coach Nick Nurse's decision to take Barlow out of the game with around five minutes on the clock and a one-point lead against the Chicago Bulls even more controversial, with the match ending in a 102-109 defeat.
The former Atlanta Hawks forward has been in inspired form for the 76ers this year, shouldering star man Joel Embiid's heavy lifting on defense, while also providing Philadelphia with a presence on the boards that they have been crying out for during recent seasons. Barlow has averaged 9.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and one block per game for the 76ers.
Despite being on a two-way contract, Barlow's impressive performances have not gone unnoticed by Nick Nurse, as he has been awarded a spot in the starting five. However, even though it is clear that the 22-year-old has deservedly gained the trust of his new employers, Nurse opted for a struggling Quentin Grimes in a small-ball lineup to see out the rest of the match -- an idea that ended catastrophically.
Nick Nurse's small-ball lineup ends in disaster
Even though Joel Embiid has found his devastating rhythm on offense, defensively, he still lacks the mobility to provide the elite presence he once did. When partnered with Barlow in the rotation, this has become less of a problem for Philadelphia, as the 2023 MVP can focus on draining his shots. Evidentially, this is a recipe for success as Embiid recorded 31 points in just 32 minutes on the floor against the Bulls.
Barlow may have only scored seven points during his appearance, but his contribution in other aspects of the game was essential to the Sixers taking an 85-81 lead into the final quarter. Before being substituted with around five minutes left on the clock, Barlow had tied his career-high (three) for steals in a single-game, while also snatching six rebounds. and a team-high +10 in points differential on the night.
In contrast, Quentin Grimes -- who replaced Barlow for the final stretch of the matchup -- continued his poor form, registering two points, one rebound, and two assists, while sinking just one of his four field-goal attempts.
To make tougher reading for the Philadelphia fan base, Grimes finished the night with a team-low -21 points differential, highlighting that this was not the night for this player to be trusted during the most important period of the fixture. Most importantly, he lacked a defensive presence to ensure that the 76ers could gain a vital victory at the start of a gruelling five-game road stretch.
The Chicago Bulls are currently eighth in the entire NBA in rebounding, which would suggest that if the Philadelphia 76ers need a physical lineup down the stretch. Nevertheless, Nick Nurse opted for players who are not renowned for their resilience in the paint. If decision-making like this continues, Sixers fans may begin to question whether their head coach's credentials are the correct ones for this roster.