The Philadelphia 76ers will enter the 2026-27 season as one of the definitive favorites to win the championship. Following the bevy of moves they have pulled off to kick their offseason off, fans and pundits alike have been in unison in placing lofty expectations on them. Now, it is incumbent upon the entire organization to deliver –– the coaching staff included.
To that effect, head coach Nick Nurse seems poised to implement a major shift to the team's philosophy starting next season. According to team president Mike Gansey during the Summer League Broadcast, the veteran tactician is eyeing a faster pace for the team's scoring attack in the upcoming campaign.
Last season, the 76ers were in the middle of the pack in the pace department, ranking 15th in that department. More often than not, the team opted to settle itself in the halfcourt to make the most of their shot creators' improvisation skills, but with their reshaped personnel, it only makes sense for them to start accelerating the way they play in a literal sense.
The 76ers are poised to finally play faster next season
After acquiring Jaylen Brown and trading Paul George away, the 76ers now have an even more dynamic player who thrives in the open court. Drafting an electric scorer in Labaron Philon Jr. and signing free agent guard Anfernee Simons also arm the team with a couple of players who should do particularly well in a faster setting.
With Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe having already proven to be more lethal operators in the open floor, the 76ers are now more incentivized than ever to adopt a faster style of play. Having Joel Embiid kind of holds them back on that front, but they should still be able to strike a harmonious balance between a grind-it-out style and a more free-flowing design. Embiid is also good enough to ignite fast breaks with his underrated passing.
Nick Nurse has been a subject of criticism over the last few years, but if he successfully cudgels the 76ers into playing faster, that would be his best work yet for the team. This group is simply meant to play in a breakneck pace, and sticking to their old style would not be a good way to maximize their personnel.
Hopefully, the 76ers will follow through on this intended shift in dynamics. After all, aside from it being long overdue, the team simply has way too much talent to not fully unleash in the open court.
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