Nick Nurse helped the Philadelphia 76ers realize their potential last season, used the core of the roster to its fullest when all players were healthy, and remained competitive even when Joel Embiid went down with injury. Despite the fact that the team added fresh superstar talent and refurbished their already highly effective lineups, Nurse could start by using the building blocks that worked well together from the previous year.
The 76ers were playing well with their starting lineup active during the previous season. However, the team is putting together a new 5-man rotation with more offensive talent at its disposal, headlined by Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey. In any case, the Sixers will have to assess how their trio of superstars will perform together, but, the team will need time to gel.
In that case, relying on previous season pairings appears to be the optimum path for Nurse. That said, Maxey and Embiid dominated the game together in the 958 minutes they put as a pair on the floor, outscoring opponents by a plus-12.4 points per 100 possessions, according to NBA.com. Naturally, the Sixers might lean on them to start the season, but they could have some extra help from a third starting cog that functioned well playing alongside Embiid.
Kelly Oubre Jr. won his spot in this season's roster with his excellent performances from last year. He put up 15.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists, while shooting 44% from the field and keeping the team afloat as the second-string offense initiator when Embiid was out between February and March. The Kansas product was decisive and aggressive, but the biggest indicator of his success was his play while Embiid was on the floor.
Kelly Oubre Jr. showed promise as Embiid's perfect partner during last season
Oubre arrived in Philadelphia in a bargain veteran minimum deal and immediately made an impact in the forward and shooting guard position, adding extra punch to the 76ers offense. Last season, the former Wizards' swingman was Philadelphia's third-best scorer, behind Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. His ability to play solid defense in addition to his excellent offensive presence made him a valuable asset to the team.
Oubre's motor allowed Embiid to have a reliable passing option in a season that he showed improvement in his play-making ability, especially from the high-post area. Embiid averaged a career-high 5.6 assists per game and despite his injury-filled season, he assisted the Kansas product 23 times through 39 regular season appearances.
Oddly enough, Embiid had the third most assists (23) to Kelly Oubre Jr., only behind Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris, per NBA.com. Oubre's aggressive approach to the basket and disruptive off-ball movement enabled Embiid to rack up significantly more assists during games. Kelly Oubre Jr. was used by the Sixers as a two-way cog, operating away from the basketball and making shots at the rim. This season, his presence as a potential starter in the wing positions would be crucial.
If Embiid remains healthy, then it will make sense for Nick Nurse to slot the 28-year-old forward alongside the All-Star center. Their synergy during the playoff series against New York is another indicator that could push Nurse to build on the partnership ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
Oubre had some great performances during the 2024 postseason that contributed to the 76ers extremely decisive approach regarding his future with the franchise. The former Wizards' star went on to average 13.5 points on 48.9% shooting from the field, and Embiid had an impact in those numbers as the Knicks defense was gravitating towards the superstar from Cameroon.
The 28-year-old had ample space to operate and even shot well from deep, making his 3-pointers on a playoff career-best 39.1% clip. The duo of Embiid and Oubre together on the court dominated the Knicks, with the 76ers outscoring their opponents by 12.7 points per 100 possessions, according to NBA.com. The Sixers were annihilating their opponents with an offensive rating of 126.1 points and a defensive rating of 113.4 points in the 200 minutes Embiid and Oubre shared the floor.
Nick Nurse must find a way to garner the same value from the Oubre-Embiid connection. With the 76ers' Eastern Conference opponents getting extra strong this offseason, and the 76ers waiting for the newly acquired players to gel, building on the successful partnerships from last season will be crucial for the start of the 2024-25 campaign.
