Meet Nick Nurse

     The Sixers were in desperate need of a new head coach. Doc Rivers was really not cutting it. Sure, playoff trips should never be overlooked. The dominant sweep over the puny Nets was definitely fun to watch. A first MVP season for Joel Embiid was satisfying. Huge wins over the Celtics were memorable moments. 

    However, three consecutive exits in the Eastern conference semifinals was the last straw. Rivers was good, but the 76ers needed better. They needed a fresh start with someone new, but not a whole new team. They want to build a championship around Joel Embiid before it's too late. He is 29, and Harden is 33. Harden is highly expected to leave Philly in free agency, but if he stays, missing an NBA Finals appearance would be incredibly disappointing. These are the golden years, the best chance the Sixers have with these players. For the past three years they have squandered all their opportunities, but with the arrival of Nick Nurse, they might not anymore. 

Nick Nurse is the 76ers new hope for a championship

Photo Credit: CBS Sports

    Nurse has experience coaching the Raptors, even winning a finals in the 2018-19 season with Toronto. And guess who they beat to get to that finals? The 76ers. Joel Embiid sobbed after Kawhi Leonard's buzzer beating fade away, which ended the Eastern Conference semifinals. They went on to win the Larry O'Brien, beating Golden State. 

    In his five years coaching the Raptors, Nurse coached a single losing season and two 50+ win seasons. His 41-41 mediocre season last year sent him out of Toronto, and Doc Rivers' incapability with a stellar team sent him out of Philly. Nurse had a talented team when he won his championship, but his 41-41 season can be credited to a team full of named players that aren't very good without a good leader. Pascal Siakam, statistically, was the team's best player. He had 24.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. But unlike Embiid, Siakam isn't really a capable team star. Siakam also doesn't have two other players above 20 points per game on his team. Embiid does: James Harden and Tyrese Maxey. 

    Nurse has one of the best teams in the league, and an MVP at his disposal. There is no excuse for another early playoff exit with such a talented roster. Doc Rivers made the mistake, and he is gone. Nurse has a city on his shoulders, and we'll just have to see what he can do.

The above photo was taken from a CBS Sports article. Photo taken from Getty Images. Article written by Sam Quinn. Image used for commentary.