Nick Nurse on what the Philadelphia 76ers expect from the Boston Celtics in first round

TL;DR

Nick Nurse, head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, discusses the challenges posed by the Boston Celtics in their playoff series. He emphasizes the importance of rebounding and securing loose balls to counter the Celtics' offensive strategies.

Key points

Nick Nurse is the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 76ers are facing the Boston Celtics in the playoffs.
Nurse emphasizes the importance of rebounding and loose balls.
He has prior playoff experience against the Celtics.
The Celtics are known for their strong rebounding and quickness.

Mentioned in this story

Nick Nurse

Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics

This series vs. the Boston Celtics will not be the first for Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse. The Sixers head honcho has led not only Philly against Boston in prior postseason matchups, but has previously squared off with the Celtics in the playoffs while coaching the Toronto Raptors. So it is safe to say the man knows the team he and Philadelphia are facing well in terms of tactics. "I think that they are really excellent rebounding team, (it) really impacts their offense, how well they chase it down," said Nurse before Game 1 of their series vs. Boston. "I mean, listen, there's a couple of things you have got to try to hit 'em early and keep 'em away from the ball," he added.

Mar 6, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Baylor Scheierman (55) reacts after his three point basket along with Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse in the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images "And securing a rebound (is one) because a lot of times they're going to kick it right back out for a 3, but one of the things they also do really well is just keep it alive and turn it into a loose ball," said Nurse. "(It) goes from a rebound to a loose ball." "And they seem really good in their anticipation and timing and hustle and quickness at getting to those loose balls. So, those two things, we've got to do. We've got to try to keep them from getting their hands on it -- and if it turns into a loose ball, we've got to win our share of those." Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on: Blue Wire: iTunes: YouTube: *This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: *

Q&A

What strategies does Nick Nurse suggest for the 76ers against the Celtics?

Nick Nurse highlights the need to hit the Celtics early and prevent them from getting rebounds, as they excel at converting rebounds into offensive opportunities.

How has Nick Nurse's experience with the Celtics influenced his coaching?

Having previously faced the Celtics in the playoffs while coaching the Toronto Raptors, Nurse brings valuable tactical insights to the 76ers' approach in this series.

What are the key strengths of the Boston Celtics according to Nick Nurse?

Nurse points out the Celtics' excellent rebounding skills and their ability to anticipate and secure loose balls, which significantly impacts their offensive play.