Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse praised Joel Embiid’s playmaking and rebounding after the center recorded a triple-double in Saturday’s 127-116 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, while also discussing Jaylen Brown’s two-way impact and the team’s defensive rebounding issues.
“Probably more happy with the 11 rebounds,” Nurse said of Embiid, who finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. “Again, he’s really rebounding the ball this year, which is great.”
Nurse highlighted Embiid’s work in two-man actions, his ability to find teammates and the screens he set to create scoring opportunities. He also pointed to several passes beyond those plays as evidence of Embiid’s effectiveness as a facilitator.
The Sixers coach was less satisfied with Philadelphia’s defensive rebounding and transition defense. The Bucks collected 17 offensive rebounds and attempted 98 shots, compared with 90 for Philadelphia, but the Sixers offset some of those extra opportunities by forcing turnovers and taking care of the ball.
“Probably a couple things that we’re not completely thrilled with tonight,” Nurse said. “They had a lot of transition buckets and also defensive rebounding. A lot of second-chance points as well. What do I make of it? It’s not very good.”
Nurse also discussed Brown, who scored 27 points on his 30th birthday. He wants the forward to use his driving ability more frequently in transition while continuing to take open catch-and-shoot three-pointers.
“If he can do it again when they’re on the move a little bit rather than into the teeth of a set defense, I think that just can open up even more things for him,” Nurse said. “I would like him to crack the paint even more in transition because I think that’s just going to get him to the free-throw line.”
Nurse linked Brown’s offensive production to his defense, noting that the forward has been creating turnovers and applying physical pressure at the other end.
“For me, it seems like when he gets going offensively, it also kind of translates to the other end where he’s going and knocking the ball away, playing really sticky defense and physical defense,” Nurse said.
The coach also praised Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for giving the Sixers a defensive lift off the bench, including his work against Tyler Herro. Caldwell-Pope scored 12 points and made four three-pointers against Milwaukee.
Philadelphia improved to 3-0 despite playing without LeBron James, who was sidelined with lower back pain management. Nurse said the team was making progress in its offensive organization but still had possessions to clean up.
“There was a lot of good ones, especially in the second half, where we at least come down and we’re organized and we run an action and we just run the next action, run the next action and then make the right play,” Nurse said.
The Sixers host the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, October 25.
