Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse wasn’t happy with his team’s effort during their 128-96 blowout loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 4 on Sunday night.
One would think that the return of star center Joel Embiid would have provided the Sixers with some added energy and enthusiasm out of the gate, but it’s almost like the opposite occurred. It was a close game early on, but the Celtics quickly pulled away and never looked back.
From the second quarter on, the contest was never competitive as the Sixers were completely outplayed in every aspect of the game. They now sit just one loss away from having their season come to an end in the first round for the second time in three years.
Nick Nurse Admonishes 76ers For Lack of Effort and Energy in Game 4 Loss
GettyPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 20: Philadelphia 76ers Head Coach Nick Nurse talks to the team during a timeout during the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 20, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Arwen Clemans/Getty Images)
In his postgame press conference, Nurse sent a clear message to his players regarding their effort and execution, or lack thereof.
“The tactical stuff isn’t going to mean anything if we’re not going to play with better energy, toughness, guarding, rebounding,” Nurse said. “Like, you don’t even know if your schemes and what you’re trying to do is working, right? So that has to take up a big portion of what we’re doing. It’s going to have to be a big mental pickup mentally. Then we can get to the schematic stuff.”
Nurse isn’t wrong in his assessment here. There was an alarming lack of energy displayed and the players certainly need to take accountability for their collectively poor performance in Game 4. But at the same time, Nurse needs to take a good, long look in the mirror.
Ultimately it falls on the head coach to get his team motivated and ready to play, and too often this season, the Sixers have looked the opposite of motivated. For that to happen in a crucial playoff game is simply inexcusable.
Nick Nurse Could Be On The Hot Seat With Sixers Facing Elimination
Nurse also used the energy angle to gloss over the “schematic stuff,” which was objectively poor. The Sixers continued to get torched from long range due to over-helping, which has been an issue all season. In Game 4, the Celtics connected on 24 3-pointers and many of those were wide open and uncontested.
Offensively, there was very little creativity or ingenuity. Almost every possession started with the same action. There were few secondary actions and little off-ball movement. But, that’s been the case for the Sixers all season. Talent, not scheme, has carried the offense.
At this point, Nurse could be coaching for his job in Philadelphia. If the Sixers are eliminated in the first round for the second time in three years under Nurse, the front office would have to seriously consider going in a different direction.
Nick Nurse Calls Out 76ers After Blowout Loss to Celtics in Game 4