Nick Nurse gives insight into Sixers’ nightly backup center choices

CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers have two succesful backup facilities to show to behind Joel Embiid as they transfer ahead with their season. Coach Nick Nurse can flip to 15-year veteran Andre Drummond who can nonetheless rebound with one of the best of them and offers measurement down low or he can flip to second-year Adem Bona who offers a ton of power.

Each Drummond and Bona are gamers who can produce off the bench to offer Nurse and Co. some legit minutes behind Embiid. Their play has been a key for Philadelphia’s success within the 2025-26 season in video games during which Embiid cannot go.

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In the case of who Nurse will go to when Embiid does play, the coach has conversations with each huge males.

“I imply, I do discuss to them about each all the time being prepared it doesn’t matter what,” Nurse defined. “I feel in my splendid world, I wish to begin Drum on the the nights Joel, we all know he is not taking part in. I might like Drum to be the starter, and Bona to be the backup, and so they share that just about for the night time, the remainder of the time.”

With that being mentioned, Nurse and the Sixers will base it off matchups. For instance, in opposition to a crew just like the Toronto Raptors that do not function a lot measurement, Bona will get the decision. In opposition to the larger groups, Nurse will go to the burly Drummond to supply a greater matchup inside in opposition to that particular crew’s measurement.

“It’s extra most likely matched up primarily based or, like, as an instance we now have a recreation like, like, in Toronto, after which we simply say Bona simply gave the impression to be the new hand and a greater match for Toronto,” Nurse added. “So, we go together with him a bit of bit extra the subsequent night time, or no matter, and it’s a little bit match up, pushed. I’d say, usually, groups normally get a bit of smaller with their backup huge, in order that lends, once more, to Drummond beginning, Bona coming off the bench, however it’s not all the time the case, however I’d say it is type of the final ideas there.”

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Irrespective of who Nurse turns to, both Drummond or Bona may give the Sixers some good manufacturing. It’s a luxurious that the coach has when Embiid wants his relaxation or he cannot give it a go.

This text initially appeared on Sixers Wire: Nick Nurse provides perception into Sixers’ nightly backup middle decisions