The Philadelphia 76ers brought in Paul George because he was a theoretically seamless fit alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. But, in the trio’s limited time together, that vision never made it further than our imagination. If Philadelphia can get healthy, Nick Nurse must unlock its controversial big three.
The big three never had time to click
The 76ers’ 2024-25 season was derailed by injuries, but even when their stars were available, the results left much to be desired. Embiid, Maxey, and George played just 15 of 82 possible games together and lost eight. The cohesion that many believed the tandem would have simply wasn’t there.
Philadelphia’s star trio played less than 300 minutes together and logged 110.5 points per 100 possessions according to databallr. This estimation would’ve ranked the 76ers as a bottom-five NBA team in offensive rating. While the numbers may initially seem surprising, it’s reflective of how Philadelphia’s big three meshed.
It takes time for players to properly develop chemistry, especially multiple all-star caliber talents. Embiid, Maxey, and George never got an extended chance to get familiar with each other. As a result, none of them knew how to play alongside one another. Teams can have loads of talent, but if there’s no foundation, their ceiling is limited. Regardless, the 76ers’ championship hopes are dependent on getting a clean bill of health.
The 76ers' offense lacked innovation
Philadelphia’s offense was wonky, but it can’t be solely blamed on a lack of cohesion. The 76ers primarily ran two-man actions with Embiid and Maxey, which frequently left George purposeless on the weak-side. Nurse and his personnel must experiment with more actions where each star is involved. This could be as simple as George setting a ghost screen or Maxey getting free off motion.
Still, there must be more creativity injected into the 76ers' offense with Embiid’s floor-raising ability in serious question. It would be unwise to heavily rely on Embiid as an offensive engine because of his ongoing left knee issues. If Nurse designed more actions for Maxey and George, it would lessen the wear and tear Embiid typically endures during the regular season.
Many fans doubt that George can return to the multi-faceted star-level wing that he once was. Time will tell if his struggles from last season were caused by age regression or injuries. If it’s the latter, Nurse must use him as more than a spot-up shooter. George thrived as a ball-handler in limited doses and appeared as the 76ers’ best playmaker in stretches. Nurse must build off George’s on-ball creation rather than let him dwell in the corner or settle for a contested two.
Nurse and his coaching staff face many challenges when crafting an offensive game plan, considering the numerous moving parts. But, there must be more innovation and variety for Philadelphia’s big three to hit its stride.