Nick Nurse Brings Windex To Philadelphia
Besides A Championship Pedigree, Nurse Will Bring A Much Needed Attention To Detail On The Offensive Glass
(Thanks Getty Images)
The Philadelphia 76ers have made a bold move in hiring Nick Nurse as their new head coach, with the hope of winning the city's first NBA Championship since 1983. Known for his innovative coaching style, Nurse has been described by his former boss Masai Ujiri as a "Mad Scientist" on the bench.
The team's rebounding approach is one of the first areas Nurse and his staff aim to improve. The decline in the Sixers' rebounding numbers has been noticeable since Doc Rivers was hired at the beginning of the 2020-2021 season.
2020-2021 Season- 13th Offensive, 13th Defensive and 10th Overall
2021-2022 Season- 30th Offensive, 19th Defensive and 29th Overall
2022-2023 Season- 27th Offensive, 22nd Defensive, and 26th Overall (But they averaged 2 fewer rebounds per game overall)
The Sixers have been struggling with their rebounding due to a lack of attention to detail, especially on the offensive end. Despite having talented players like Joel Embiid, and James Harden, and strong reserves such as Dwight Howard, Andre Drummond, and Paul Reed (who’s been used sparingly in past seasons), the team has not been able to achieve success in rebounding.
Let's talk about Nurses’ focus on the defensive side of the basketball court. His teams are known for their strong offensive rebounding, as evidenced by the fact that the Raptors placed 2nd in the NBA in offensive rebounds per game for the past two seasons. Even this season, the Raptors had 8 players (including the newly acquired Jakob Poeltl) who averaged at least 1.3 offensive rebounds per game. It's worth noting that these 7 players all played at least 54 games, so their consistency is impressive. In comparison, the Sixers only had 4 players with similar stats.
(Thanks NBA.com/Bulls for the video clip)
In the video above, showcasing the Raptors' victory over the Bulls, it is evident how multiple players at various intervals focus on attacking the glass, leading to increased opportunities for Toronto on the offensive end. Notably, in the fourth quarter of a closely contested game, Toronto managed to create four additional possessions. It is worth mentioning that Chicago, known for their defensive rebounding prowess, allowed 19 offensive rebounds in the game, with at least one being grabbed by nine different players.
Let’s take it a step further by using the Offensive Rebound Rate:
Offensive Rebound Rate:
2021-22 Season: League Average Rate: 26.2%
Toronto was 31.1% (2nd in the NBA)
Philadelphia was 22.9% (Dead Last in the NBA)
2022-23 Season: League Average Rate: 26.8%
Toronto was 30.2% (3rd in the NBA)
Philadelphia was 24.5% (25th in the NBA)
Improving offensive rebounding skills can lead to more scoring opportunities, which was evident in the Raptors' performance. Over the past two years, their proficiency in offensive rebounding has resulted in being among the top three teams in the NBA for putback points scored and attempts. In contrast, the Sixers ranked 24th or lower in these categories during the same seasons.
Improving offensive possessions not only enhances the 76ers' dominance in games but also limits the opposition's scoring opportunities against one of the NBA's top defenses. With aspirations for a championship, addressing this aspect of the game under their new head coach brings the 76ers closer to achieving their ultimate goal.