WILMINGTON, Del. — The Philadelphia 76ers are in experimentation mode. Coach Nick Nurse is in the process of seeing what he has in this roster and what lineup combinations work well together along with trying to implement a new offensive system with an emphasis on passing. All of that has to be figured out ahead of the Oct. 22 opener in Boston.
Nurse showed off a little wrinkle in the team’s Blue X White scrimmage on Sunday as he had second-year big man Adem Bona and star Joel Embiid playing together on the frontline. It’s an intriguing combination as Bona brings a ton of energy, great rim protection, and a soft touch around the basket and Embiid can do everything else at an elite level if he is close to getting healthy.
When considering the fact that Paul George is working his way back from his own injury, the power forward position is open for the taking and Bona is going to be given that chance. Although, realistically, Bona would probably be the center in a lineup with Embiid to allow the big fella to utilize his skills on the perimeter.
“I mean, listen, I think there’s kind of an open position at the 4,” Nurse said on Sunday after the scrimmage. “Especially, right now with Paul not being quite ready. There’s a number of guys that we’re trying to work into that spot. He’s just another one. What do I like about it? I mean, you probably saw today, he’s probably gonna be more the 5.”
To Nurse’s point, the Sixers will want Bona near the basket to take advantage of his skills. Embiid is the orchestrator from either the perimeter or at the nail which allows him to see the floor much better when the inevitable doubles are sent to him. He and Bona can then playoff each other which is the vision Nurse wants to see with those two.
“He’s gonna play down towards the basket and rim protect and things like that, but there’s certainly some drive dump-offs to him, hit Joel. Joel hits him. Type of situations that are high percentage plays,” Nurse explained. “I like that part. I think he’ll help the rebound, he’ll help the rim protection. See how it goes.”
Whenever Embiid is ready to get back on the floor, one should expect to see him with Bona. That is going to be a big focal point as Nurse and his staff look for ways to utilize the entire roster.
“I think it would be awesome,” Bona added of the potential pairing. “That’s been my goal since I got here, since I got drafted at some point, to be able to share the flow with Joel. I’ve been working towards that, developing my game, how to be able to complement this game while I’m on the floor with him. So, yeah, I’ve been working towards that. I’m really excited to see how that’s gonna pan out when we get on the floor.”