Philadelphia was full of excitement when news arrived earlier that big man Joel Embiid would return for the 76ers in Game 4 against the Boston Celtics.
Unfortunately, the enthusiasm was soon deflated as the Celtics ran up a double-digit score in a devastating 128-96 loss for the home team. It created a 1-3 series deficit for the 76ers, with Boston now on the verge of eliminating them from the playoffs in the first round.
The Celtics’ trio of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Payton Pritchard combined for 82 points in a statement-making victory. Tatum led all starters with 30 points, 11 assists, and seven boards, while Brown contributed 20 points and seven rebounds.
Pritchard was a star once again off the bench, scoring 32 points on 12-of-21 field goals, including hitting six of the 12 three-pointers he attempted. When the final horn sounded, it was an embarrassing 32-point loss at home for a Sixers squad that had all of its key players in the lineup.
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And with a loss of that nature comes plenty of backlash from fans. Many blasted the team out of frustration, with multiple individuals blaming head coach Nick Nurse for what they considered a terrible coaching performance.
“About 3 years too late. Shoulda fired Morey and Nurse years ago. They are awful,” one commenter wrote on X.
Another said, “FIRE NICK NURSE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.”
“Hopefully, the next game will be the last Nick Nurse’s game as the Sixers head coach,” a commenter wrote.
“Sell the team. Don’t even bother showing up for Game 5. Just one more game before Nick Nurse and Daryl Morey are fired,” someone replied to the 76ers’ X post about the final score.
While multiple fans were critical of Nurse and the 76ers’ owner, some blamed specific players, suggesting Joel Embiid and Paul George should be gone next season.
“Yep let’s go ahead and break this up. I do not wanna see Embiid or Paul George on this roster next year,” a frustrated fan commented.
“That was probably Embiid’s last game as a Sixer. Think it’s obvious that they need to dump that guy off while they still can,” someone wrote.
Embiid has been injury-prone throughout his career, despite being drafted as a coveted pick in the NBA Draft. He’s a multi-time All-Star and NBA MVP winner, but has yet to get them to the NBA Finals. His return on Sunday night included 26 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in 34 minutes.
Some felt Embiid’s inclusion in the lineup slowed the quicker pace and particularly hindered the backcourt duo of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. Maxey scored 22, while the rookie Edgecombe finished with only six points.
Nurse became the team’s head coach in 2023 after coaching the Toronto Raptors for over five seasons and guiding them to an NBA Championship, with star Kawhi Leonard on the roster. In his three seasons as Philadelphia’s head coach, he holds a
116-130 record, missing the playoffs in one season and going out in the first round in the other.
He’s now on the verge of going out in the first round for his second playoff appearance as 76ers head coach.
It’s clear something isn’t working with the Philadelphia 76ers, and the team may have little choice but to address its coach or roster in the offseason. They will have the No. 22 pick in the NBA Draft in June, but one has to wonder if a trade could be on the way to move up and get a difference maker.
Either way, they are now facing a must-win Game 5. That occurs on Tuesday night at TD Garden in Boston, with the Celtics fans likely fired up to see their team oust the rival Philadelphia 76ers.
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