Nick Nurse Must Build Actions, Not a Turn-Taking Order
Philadelphia’s stars will fit only if the offense makes one player’s gravity create the next player’s opportunity.
A coach with several elite scorers can make the game look simpler than it is. The easy approach is to spread the floor and let a star attack. The championship approach is to design an action in which the first star forces the defense to expose the help it plans to use against the second.
Start With Two Threats in One Action
Imagine Maxey receiving a handoff from Embiid while LeBron screens for Brown on the weak side. The defense cannot focus on one event. If Embiid’s defender steps toward Maxey, Embiid can roll. If the weak-side defender tags that roll, Brown can cut or lift to the arc. If the defense switches the handoff, Maxey can pull the slower defender away from the paint.
The value is not the first option. It is the sequence of decisions the defense must make in less than two seconds.
Use LeBron as a Connector
LeBron does not need to dribble for ten seconds to control an offense. He can screen, receive the ball in the middle of the floor and make the next pass before the defense resets. From that position, he can find Embiid at the rim, Brown cutting from the corner or Maxey relocating behind the play.
Keep the Floor Balanced
Star-heavy teams often create poor spacing because everyone wants to remain available for the ball. Nurse must keep one player occupying the corner, one lifting behind penetration and one threatening the rim. Without those landmarks, defenders can help and recover without traveling far enough to create a real opening.
What to Watch Next
- Whether Philadelphia runs actions involving three stars rather than one high screen and three observers.
- How often LeBron screens before becoming the passer.
- Whether Embiid catches the ball deeper because the defense is occupied elsewhere.
- Which five-player group Nurse trusts to close tight games.