3 observations after Sixers prime Nets in preseason, Nurse continues experimentation

3 observations after Sixers top Nets in preseason, Nurse continues experimentation initially appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

In a single week, the Sixers will host the Milwaukee Bucks in entrance of a fired-up, sold-out Wells Fargo Heart crowd and formally kick off their 2024-25 season.

Wednesday’s matchup with the Nets was their final contest in Philadelphia earlier than that sport. They gained it by a 117-95 margin, bettering to 3-2 within the preseason.

Kelly Oubre Jr. was the the crew’s main scorer with 18 factors on 5-for-8 taking pictures.

The Sixers’ preseason finale is Friday night time in Orlando towards the Magic. Listed below are observations on their victory over Brooklyn:

Nurse testing out his ahead choices  

As Sixers head coach Nick Nurse kinds by means of all his choices, it’s apparent that he’s nonetheless actively exploring what he’s received together with his position participant forwards.

On Wednesday, he determined to begin KJ Martin on the 4. Martin performed a strong sport Monday within the Sixers’ exhibition win over the Hawks and has lately gave the impression to be forward of Ricky Council IV within the crew’s pecking order.

The Sixers’ offense didn’t circulate easily within the first jiffy towards the Nets. Martin had a lefty layup blocked, Tyrese Maxey turned the ball over on a move alongside the baseline, and the Sixers had been usually tentative as a unit.

Eric Gordon remained within the beginning 5 and helped the Sixers get cooking. He drained each of his three-point makes an attempt within the first quarter and in addition nabbed a steal that fueled a fast-break alley-oop from Maxey to Oubre. A bit later, Maxey noticed Martin sneaking open and set him up for a slam, too. The pair teamed up as soon as extra within the second quarter.

“He simply tells me he’s going to throw it,” Martin mentioned of his lob reference to Maxey. “He’s like, ‘I’m simply going to throw it by the ring, so wherever it’s, go get it.’ I at all times inform him that I’m operating, and he’s on the lookout for me.

“He advised me immediately, ‘We are able to get a kind of each single sport. … When it’s transition and the protection is type of lollygagging again and backpedaling, simply hold operating,’ and he mentioned he will give it to me.”

Though Martin declined a possible nook three-pointer late within the first quarter and stayed at 0 for 1 from lengthy vary this preseason, he once more contributed in quite a lot of methods. He performed 26 minutes and completed with 12 factors, six rebounds and two assists.

“He was good,” Nurse mentioned. “Actually good. Once more, simply attempting to try some issues, give him an opportunity to begin. I believed he was actually powerful defensively. He was good on the glass as effectively. He finishes down there.

“And he performs with a fairly good sense of realizing what’s occurring on the market, too. He’s type of a small energy ahead on the market, however he’s able to transferring his toes on the perimeter and guarding good gamers.”

The Sixers’ different Martin — former Heat forward Caleb Martin — checked in off the bench for a second consecutive sport.

Nurse famous Tuesday that he was “simply experimenting a bit bit” with the 29-year-old Martin on the second unit.

“What’s he in all probability going to offer us? He’s going to offer us some power off the bench, proper? Which I believed we lacked within the earlier sport,” Nurse mentioned. “So once more, we’re simply attempting to unravel that equation a bit bit. It cut up up Kyle (Lowry) and Eric a bit bit, which can be a part of the plan. So it’s simply type of two completely different appears. I believe it’ll be fairly fluid as we go right here for a short time.”

Caleb Martin made a formidable play Wednesday when, with the Nets’ protection centered on Maxey, he introduced the ball up, drove laborious to the rim and scored a nifty and-one layup. Subsequent time down, he received into the paint and kicked the ball out to Jared McCain, whose three-point strive went out and in. Martin’s competency at nearly every thing implies that experiments involving him are unlikely to fail.

Guerschon Yabusele nonetheless initially served because the Sixers’ backup heart, however he additionally performed at energy ahead late within the second quarter. With their Yabusele-Andre Drummond frontcourt, the Sixers turned to zone protection and used Caleb Martin and Oubre as their rangy perimeter items.

Yabusele made a spotlight play simply earlier than the halftime buzzer, selecting off a Dorian Finney-Smith inbounds move and storming in for a dunk.

As soon as Joel Embiid’s accessible and Nurse gathers extra in-game information about his new gamers, the crew’s ahead image ought to develop clearer.

First-quarter McCain minutes, regarding second within the fourth

Lowry (relaxation) sat out Wednesday’s sport together with Embiid (left knee management) and Paul George (left knee bone bruise). Neither Embiid nor George will play within the Sixers’ preseason finale both. George is set to be re-evaluated early next week.

Lowry’s absence opened the door for first-quarter McCain minutes within the backcourt with Maxey. The 20-year-old at first seemed a tad extra comfy than within the Sixers’ preseason opener at Wells Fargo Center. He struggled within the third quarter, although. McCain dedicated 4 turnovers in his six-plus minutes of third-period motion. The rookie was bothered by Brooklyn’s ball strain and unable to proceed taking part in at his tempo.

He had a worrisome second within the fourth quarter when he missed a shot inside after which, after reaching up for the rebound, landed laborious on his again.

Members of the Sixers’ coaching employees attended to a shaken-up McCain and finally assisted him again to the locker room. A Sixers official mentioned postgame that McCain was being evaluated by medical employees, together with for a concussion. Nurse added that McCain went to the hospital to be assessed.

“It was tough. … Clearly, he was having some hassle respiratory there,” Nurse mentioned. “I believed perhaps he received the wind knocked out of him. I’m not fairly positive what was occurring there. I’ve by no means fairly seen one like that earlier than, so let’s hope he’s OK and we’ll see what the report is from the hospital.”

Oubre in assault mode  

Oubre performed 21 minutes within the first half and produced loads.

The Sixers compelled 13 first-half turnovers, which enabled Oubre, Maxey and firm to play commonly in transition. Oubre was decisive and efficient within the half court docket as effectively. He shot 6 for 7 on the foul line and a pair of for 3 past the arc. The 28-year-old lefty is at 6 for 17 (35.3 p.c) this preseason from three-point vary.

“I’m actually aggressive, bro,” Oubre mentioned. “Simply being aggressive, actually. Simply attempting to get downhill, to not be denied … simply sticking to my strengths, particularly earlier within the sport or at any time when the openings are there. I’ve at all times been a driver, too.”

In accordance with Nurse, the Sixers have labored with Oubre on “attacking the rim and taking part in by means of a number of the physicality.”

“I don’t prefer it when he will get stripped and thinks he will get fouled or no matter,” Nurse mentioned. “We’ve actually been on him about that. Tonight, he was getting hit, clearly, as a result of he was getting fouls referred to as. I believe he had one which he coughed up, however apart from that, he received to the road.

“Once more, he simply appears actually comfy on the market. Groups have appeared to play off him a bit and when he’s going, he can stand up and hit these. He normally does it in bunches a bit bit.”

The Sixers sat Oubre and most of their veterans for the second half, leaning on kids akin to McCain and Council.

Jeff Dowtin Jr. was comparatively skilled at 27 years previous and performed a pleasant second half, recording 11 factors on 5-for-7 taking pictures, three rebounds and three assists.