Several outlets are reporting that the next Philadelphia 76ers coach will be former Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse.
Nurse compiled a 227-163 record in Toronto along with an NBA title.
The hire doesn’t come without question.
The first one is, can Nurse coach this roster? If you look at the makeup of the Raptors roster, you see players who have a lot of interchangeable skills on both sides of the floor.
Philadelphia’s roster doesn’t contain that.
Furthermore, how will Nurse deal with a true high-maintenance superstar?
Joel Embiid isn’t Kawhi Leonard. Everyone knew Leonard was a rental with all agreeing to leave together for one purpose. Toronto wanted a title. Leonard wanted a title to shove down the San Antonio Spurs’ throat.
Both sides were motivated.
Embiid is different. He isn’t going anywhere. He’s been vocal throughout his career and he towers over all including the coach.
The second is Daryl Morey.
The Nurse-Morey marriage seems to be a strange one. Morey has his way of doing things and those things can put a coach in an uncomfortable position unless you’re Mike D’Antoni.
Not sure if the vision, beyond wanting to win a title, marry very well.
If this goes wrong, it will look much worse than anything that happened under Doc Rivers.
