Byron Scott sees something in this 76ers team that he never had when he was trying to steer Kobe Bryant through the late-game grind with the Lakers: options.
That’s the big difference, in Scott’s view. Philadelphia’s roster gives Nick Nurse a level of flexibility that most coaches dream about, and Scott made it clear that there’s no automatic answer when the game gets tight. On the Fast Break podcast, he was asked who should have the ball if the 76ers are down five with 40 seconds left in a playoff game - LeBron James or Tyrese Maxey - and he pushed back on the idea that it can be decided in advance.
“Coaches do not predetermine who takes the shot on a conversation like this, you predetermine who is playing their ass off this game, who gets the ball.
“The good news is [Nick] Nurse has got four guys he can go to. It just depends on the situation for me.”
Scott pointed to the kind of depth Philadelphia has around its stars, with Jaylen Brown, VJ Edgecombe and Joel Embiid part of the mix. For him, that’s the luxury Nurse has now - a roster strong enough that the final possession doesn’t have to belong to one predetermined player every time.
That’s a far cry from Scott’s own Lakers experience. He coached Los Angeles from 2014 to 2016, a rough stretch that produced only 38 wins across two seasons combined. And when he looked back on that team, he drew a sharp contrast with what Philadelphia can do now.
“I couldn’t do this when I was coaching on the Lakers with Kobe, because Kobe was the only great player we had.
“Every last shot is coming to you, you got to figure out what to do.”
He added of the 76ers, “With these guys it depends how the game is going.”
Scott also likes what this setup means for LeBron James. At 41, James is in a position where he doesn’t have to carry everything, and Scott sees that as a plus.
“LeBron, a guy who has been there many, many times is taking a step back, letting these guys know ‘I’m here to win, I don’t need to be the LeBron I used to be’.”
So far, the arrangement is paying off. The 76ers are 6-1 and sitting as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
But Scott also noted that the season is still young, and one issue could change the equation fast: Joel Embiid’s health. If Embiid can’t stay on the floor, James could be asked to do more, especially with the team’s lack of depth at center - a point that was recently criticized by Charles Barkley.
In Other News...
Sixers May Have Found A Real Answer When Embiid Sits
Replacing Joel Embiid is never going to be a clean one-for-one proposition, and the Sixers know it. When he sits, the problem is not just scoring, but the way his size and presence change everything behind the play, especially on the defensive end. In that context, the recent game against the Charlotte Hornets offered a useful glimpse at a different kind of solution, one built less around filling Embiids shoes and more around keeping the floor from tilting.
Adem Bona and Jabari Walker looked like a pairing that can give Philadelphia some real stability in those minutes, even if it is not meant to mimic Embiids offense. The idea is more rotational than transformational, but that matters for a team that needs workable answers when its centerpiece is off the court. If the Sixers can keep leaning into that combination, they may have found a practical way to survive the stretches that usually expose them. [Read more 🡒]
Joel Embiid's Status Suddenly Looms Over Sixers Vs Bulls
Joel Embiids availability is again hanging over the 76ers as they prepare to face the Bulls, with the star center listed as questionable because of right foot plantar fascia management. He already sat out the previous game on the second night of a back-to-back, and through the early part of the season he has appeared in five of seven games, a reminder of how carefully Philadelphia is having to manage his workload.
The injury report also leaves the Sixers a little thinner elsewhere, with Dominick Barlow and Ariel Hukporti ruled out. For a team trying to keep its rotation steady while protecting Embiids health, the status report adds another layer of uncertainty heading into a matchup that already carries plenty of weight. [Read more 🡒]
Dean Wade Is Helping The Sixers But One Issue Still Looms
Dean Wade has given the 76ers something useful early in the season, especially on the defensive end and as a connective passer. He has fit into the rotation with real value, and the team clearly sees why he matters: he plays significant minutes, helps stabilize possessions, and has already shown he can make life easier for teammates around him.
The bigger question is whether Philadelphia can get more aggression from him as a scorer. The Sixers pushed Wade to shoot more during training camp, but he has stayed reluctant to let it fly, leaving his points and field-goal attempts low for the amount of run he is getting. If that hesitation sticks, it could cap how much offensive upside the team can squeeze from a player who otherwise has been doing plenty of the little things right. [Read more 🡒]