Nick Nurse Provides Candid Assessment of Challenging Sixers Road Trip in Joel Embiid’s Absence

Nick Nurse is content with the Philadelphia 76ers’ performance on their recent four-game road trip, which concluded with two wins and two losses. Despite missing Joel Embiid for the entire trip, the Sixers managed to achieve a respectable outcome, especially considering they faced three teams with winning records.

The road swing began with a loss to the Miami Heat on Christmas, where Tyrese Maxey had a challenging game. However, the team rebounded with victories against the Orlando Magic and the Houston Rockets. The latter game saw an outstanding performance from Maxey. Tobias Harris contributed key scoring, and role players like Marcus Morris Sr., Patrick Beverley, and Paul Reed had their moments.

Nick Nurse expressed his satisfaction with the team’s competitiveness during the road trip and was pleased to return home with two more wins. He acknowledged the challenges posed by the absence of Joel Embiid but commended the team for fighting hard in all the games.

Reflecting on the road trip, Nurse stated, “I would probably say the same thing I just told the team. I said, ‘Listen, that was a difficult road trip.’ And without Joel the whole way, I think that — I kind of said I’m looking forward to it and we needed it. And I’m glad we got out of it 2-2, right? I think any of the wins on that road trip were all gonna be hard, and we were able to pick off two of them.”

Nurse highlighted the team’s resilience in fighting hard in games, even when facing tough opponents. He pointed out that the Sixers gave themselves a chance in the Miami game despite not playing well and having a close contest down the stretch. Although the game against the Chicago Bulls wasn’t as close down the stretch, Nurse emphasized the team’s effort to fight and stay in the game.

The road trip provided an opportunity for Tyrese Maxey to take on the role of the primary option, experiencing both moments of brilliance and shooting slumps against strong competition. The extremes in performance can contribute to shaping Maxey’s mindset when leading the Sixers’ offense, with or without Embiid.

The two wins during this road trip were significant, especially considering the Sixers had struggled to secure victories in games where Embiid was absent before this stretch. As the schedule is expected to ease with consecutive home games, the Sixers aim to build on the positive aspects of the road trip and return to winning more consistently.

Tobias Harris acknowledged the team’s missed opportunities and emphasized the need to learn from the challenges faced during the road trip. Despite the loss to the Bulls, Harris highlighted the team’s resilience and determination to battle through adversity.

In conclusion, the Sixers’ recent road trip, marked by the absence of Joel Embiid, provided valuable insights into the team’s ability to compete and adapt to different circumstances. The experience gained during this challenging stretch will contribute to the team’s growth and preparedness for future games.