Despite the Philadelphia 76ers having one of the best rosters in the NBA, they’ve stumbled out of the gate this season. Joel Embiid and Paul George may still be sidelined, but even without them, the Sixers should have the talent to take down teams like the Detroit Pistons. Instead, they’re sitting at the bottom of the standings, currently 15th, with only one win to show for their efforts.
After a surprising 1-3 start, fans and critics alike are questioning if this is truly a championship-contending team. At this rate, even making the playoffs looks like a challenge. Head coach Nick Nurse didn’t hold back his frustration, especially given the controversy surrounding Embiid’s injury status, which resulted in a fine for the team after they reportedly concealed the full extent of his injury.
In today’s NBA, three-point shooting is critical, and the 76ers struggled, hitting just 28.6% from beyond the arc (8/28). Nurse called out the team’s inefficiency, explaining at a post-game press conference, “We didn’t put pressure on the rim with a roll threat. We did turn the corner and got some decent shots at the rim but didn’t finish at a high enough rate.”
The Sixers created good looks from the perimeter, but too often, players hesitated to shoot, passing up opportunities. Confidence in Philadelphia is low, and they currently sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Tyrese Maxey is one bright spot, finishing the game with 32 points, but one player’s effort alone isn’t enough.
Nurse also noted the lack of intensity from players like Kelly Oubre Jr. and Caleb Martin, with Oubre scoring 13 points and Martin putting up just 7 in 33 minutes. The team relied heavily on Maxey for scoring and struggled with rebounding, as Andre Drummond managed only 11 boards. Without Embiid, their lineup was undersized, but Nurse isn’t making excuses.
Assessing Drummond’s game, Nurse said, “He wasn’t quite as dominant as he felt in his defensive role tonight. When he’s out, everyone has to fight like heck.” The Sixers’ 41.8% shooting from the field proved to be a major issue.
Summing up his disappointment, Nurse said, “Our guys need to play at an average to above-average level,” signaling a need for significant improvement.
Meanwhile, the NBA fined the Sixers $100,000 for making misleading public statements about Embiid’s health, particularly by President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and Nurse, which the league found to violate its Player Participation Policy.
Nurse had initially said Embiid looked good and was preparing for a return, but an NBA investigation revealed that the star center was dealing with a knee issue. The team’s punishment was due to the conflicting reports about Embiid’s health.
With their latest loss against the Pistons and mounting issues, Nurse openly criticized his team’s performance, suggesting it’s an uphill battle for the Sixers to turn things around. They’ll need their star players back soon if they hope to get back on track and start winning again.
