- New 76ers coach has big plans for the reigning MVP
- Eddie Johnson lays out why Nick Nurse is the best chance for redemption in Philly
- Joel Embiid, Sixers, are facing major pressure ahead of the 2023-24 season
From one star to another, it’s been a never-ending cycle of one step forward and three steps back for the Philadelphia 76ers. All the while, their superstar big man, Joel Embiid, has been caught in the middle of it with no way out.
In a segment on SiriusXM NBA Radio this week, the star center got some quality advice from a former NBA Sixth Man, Eddie Johnson, on how he can best maximize his run in Philly next season: “I think Joel has to stand up and accept everything because he’s getting everything. So if he’s mad about that, I applaud Nick Nurse for putting that out there. Look, dude, you can’t get out of the second round. All the stuff you’ve done, you still can’t get out of the second round. So I’m gonna tell you how you can. I think that’s what Joel Embiid needs, he needs to be stimulated.”
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse says he’s going to need a number of different things from Joel Embiid.
Eddie Johnson on why the star center should be open to his new head coach’s requests. pic.twitter.com/i1El2SV0MC
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) September 10, 2023
After their collapse in the playoffs this year, the 76ers made the decision to part ways with respected veteran coach Doc Rivers. In his place, they brought in former Raptors coach Nick Nurse, who won a title with Kawhi Leonard and the crew back in 2019. It remains to be seen how the era of Nurse will pan out for Philly, but unlocking Embiid is the only way to salvage their season.
Embiid Is On His Last Stand With The Sixers
Over the past 7 years, Joel Embiid has been the savior in Philly, and his MVP run last season was the crowning moment of his career. Sadly, it was followed up with another early playoff exit, and many fans are wondering why they shouldn’t expect a similar outcome in 2024.
The plan for Nurse is to utilize Embiid more around the rim and allow him to work off of aggressive guard play. “I’m going to really expect a lot more rim protection from him. I would say that would be where I’m going to start at,” said Nurse, via USA Today. “We’re going to probably let our aggressive guards be really aggressive and funnel a lot of things to him. I am expecting that I always say like, he’s gonna take more swings at blocked shots.”
Last season, Embiid had his best campaign ever with averages of 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game on 54.8% shooting. While it’s hard to imagine Embiid playing much better than that, it’ll be interesting to see how his numbers change with a new coach and the ongoing situation with his number-one co-star.
What Is The Status With James Harden?
As the 76ers prepare for another long season, the crisis with James Harden remains unresolved. For Joel Embiid to have the kind of season he wants, he’ll need the help of a true co-star. And in the absence of Ben Simmons, James Harden is the only one left to fill those shoes.
Unfortunately for Philly, Harden wants absolutely nothing to do with them after extension talks went wrong over the summer. Currently, Harden is still on the team, and it looks like it’ll stay that way until opening night.
Whether or not James suits up for the Sixers, Embiid is going to lead either way and the pressure will be on for him to finally break through and secure a ticket to the Conference Finals. Right now, his best chance of making that dream a reality is to take the advice of his championship coach and give it the best shot he’s got.
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