Sixers coach Nick Nurse assesses Adem Bona's playoff performances

CAMDEN, N.J. -- As the Philadelphia 76ers convened for practice on Thursday afternoon, their focus is now on taking control of the series as they were able to steal home court advantage with a Game 2 win over the Boston Celtics on the road. The series now shifts to Philadelphia where the Sixers have a chance to make things happen.

In order to do so, the Sixers will need some better play out of the big men spot until Joel Embiid can return. While Philadelphia was able to win on Tuesday, it will need Adem Bona to step up and start producing for the Sixers.

Bona has three points on 1-for-7 shooting combined through two games thus far with only six rebounds. He did have a block in Game 2, but he had a plus-minus of zero. However, he also had a plus-minus of zero in the 32-point Game 1 loss, so coach Nick Nurse is happy with what he's seen.

"I think that Bona’s minutes have been OK, right?" Nurse said. "Would I like him hanging on the rim a little more after a dunk on some of these? Yeah, but he just hasn't got there yet, but again, even after Game 1, I think I said he was on the plus-minus, he was a zero in a 30-point blowout. So he's doing some good things."

Nurse makes good points when considering Bona has found ways to impact the game, but he has been unable to really finish around the basket. He has also missed some opportunities as he has fumbled some passes out of bounds.

"Yeah, he's had a couple chances at the rim and all that kind of stuff," Nurse continued. "And they've rolled off, but he'll get up there, and he'll spring up there, here a little bit, in some of these games, and start putting them through."

Nurse then added that he and Bona go over the film as he looks to help him take those next steps forward in this series. For however long Embiid is out, it will be on Bona to continue looking to take those steps forward heading into Game 3 on Friday.