How can the Philadelphia 76ers’ superteam work? Coach Nick Nurse has now stated that he plans to have LeBron James play point guard.
“He creates opportunities for others, so he’ll almost certainly be the guy who brings the ball up the court and then creates for himself or others,” Nurse said about LeBron James’ role on NBC Philadelphia.
On paper, Tyrese Maxey holds that role, but Nurse believes that playing off the ball more often will only benefit the All-Star. “I can’t stress enough what a good shooter Tyrese is. He can get ready to take a lot of catch-and-shoot attempts.”
At the same time, however, the other All-Stars—Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid—will also demand their shots, but the coach doesn’t see this as a problem and instead trusts his stars. “When push comes to shove, there won’t be any ego clashes. They’ll understand what’s best for the team.”
Nurse Satisfied with New Roster
Nurse added that he likes the bench much better than last year, even if the roster isn’t particularly deep due to the presence of the stars. The roster has been sensibly bolstered with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Anfernee Simons, and Dean Wade, and German national team player Ariel Hukporti is also new to the City of Brotherly Love.
“We have more talent, more speed, more physicality, and a breath of fresh air,” said a delighted Nurse, who believes in a smooth integration process: “We have great confidence in our rotations and that the gaps have been filled to keep the offense running.”
Last season, the Sixers finished with a 45-37 record, placing seventh in the Eastern Conference. After a win against the Orlando Magic in the play-in, they surprisingly eliminated the Boston Celtics 4-3, but their run ended in the Conference Semifinals against the eventual champions, the New York Knicks.