The firing of Doc Rivers as head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers came as a shock to many. However, Rivers had failed to progress the team past the second round of the playoffs. This was despite improving their regular-season wins total year on year. That meant the Sixers would join the Bucks, Pistons, Raptors, and Rockets in the hunt for a new head coach.
Like their fellow coachless franchises, the Sixers' expected pool of candidates carries both great depth and breadth. Names include experienced head coaches and long-time assistants. Furthermore, there have been calls for the Sixers to consider outside-the-box candidates, with The Philadelphia Inquirer's Mike Jensen arguing the Sixers should interview Dawn Staley. All this comes along with the news that James Harden has chosen to test free agency.
Sixers To Interview Nick Nurse
According to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Sixers have scheduled a meeting with former Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse. Nurse, who lead the Raptors to a championship in 2019, was let go after the franchise's slow decline over the last five years. However, Nurse is also an experienced coach. His career dates back to 1989 and includes a decade at the NBA level. Nurse originally joined the Raptors as an assistant in 2013 before being promoted to head coach in 2018.
Furthermore, Nurse is a success-driven coach who preaches a fluid basketball philosophy that calls for situational awareness and adaptability. In regard to the news, many fans expressed hope that Nurse would be able to fix the Sixers' defensive woes. A lack of meaningful defensive adjustments were a major contributor to their early playoff exit. However, the Sixers are still early in their process and proceeding "carefully". They are also expected to speak with two other recent Championship coaches in Frank Vogel and Mike Budenholzer. What do you think about the possibility of Nick Nurse to the Sixers? Let us know in the comments.
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