Earlier in the month, Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris expressed faith and belief that Joel Embiid could return to normal play this season and that the team could push for the playoffs and get in. Unfortunately for Harris, he seems to be in the minority. Philly is not making any headway in the Eastern Conference. Nor is Embiid playing anywhere close to his superstar status. With the season pretty much over, 76ers head coach Nick Nurse recently reflected on a handful of issues that have kept the Sixers from reaching success this season. While he did not exactly say it directly, Nurse indicates that he knows the season is over. However, he expects his team to lace up still and compete.
76ers’ Nick Nurse Laments Team’s Lack of Vibe and Energy
Philadelphia 76ers HC Nick Nurse Speaks Out On Managing Injuries, Energy, and Professionalism
Paul George is dropping his podcast for the rest of the season, Embiid is receiving medical evaluations and consultations from any doctor the Sixers organization can find, and Nurse has no explanation for why the team’s injuries went unmanaged throughout the year. It’s a mess, and everyone knows it. Following the most recent blowout loss to the Chicago Bulls on Monday, Nurse spoke with reporters and assessed how the season has gone for him and his team. Suffice it to say, Nurse didn’t have a lot of answers (Twitter link).
“Just the overall vibe was really poor from the start… There just didn’t seem to be a lot of energy or life from our guys. Obviously, we’re just not handling the situations that are going on with guys in and out. We’ve tried to handle it at different times this year. Right now, we’re not handling it very well. There’s a lot of games left. We’ve got to be professional. We’ve gotta go out and play. First of all, everybody needs to look at themselves and what they can do better for the team.”
“Just the overall vibe was really poor”
Sixers HC Nick Nurse after blowout loss to Bulls without Joel Embiid says they are not handling their injury issues well + told team to be professional
“Didn’t seem to be a lot of energy, life or vibe from our guys”… pic.twitter.com/nLS5orTAUx
— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) February 25, 2025
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Admitting that the team was void of positive vibes and energy is a slight indictment of Nurse’s coaching this season. While he can’t control the injuries, he can control the locker room. Clearly, he was unable to handle that as the organization’s front office and medical personnel were unable to handle the injuries.
What’s Left to Play For This Season?
First of all, the Sixers have to make the immediate move of shutting Embiid down. It’s extremely questionable why they haven’t already. The wise move is to begin the necessary medical procedures and recovery process before the season ends. The entire team might experience a sense of freedom when playing games, knowing that Embiid’s situation has been decided for good
As for George, he has something to play for right now, and that’s finding his game because it’s been AWOL all season. While Embiid’s injuries have contributed to the Sixer’s failed campaign, George must also be held accountable. His part to play in this is further elevated, considering the significant contract Philly gave him in the offseason. As Nurse stated, there are still games left to play, and if the playoffs aren’t a realistic goal, pride can be.
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