Nick Nurse: 'Going to Fight My Ass Off' to Get 76ers Where Allen Iverson Took Them | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse is focused on guiding his team to the NBA Finals.
At Friday's ceremony to unveil a statue of Hall of Fame guard Allen Iverson at the team's practice facility, Nurse spoke about his desire to have the 2023-24 76ers accomplish a feat no Sixers team has since 2001.
"I'm going to tell you what, I'm going to fight my ass off to get this team back to where you took them a long time ago," Nurse said.
Philadelphia 76ers @sixerswhatever it takes. <br><br>Nick Nurse addresses <a href="">@alleniverson</a> at sculpture unveiling. <a href="">
During the 2001 playoffs, Iverson helped the 76ers advance to the finals by defeating the Toronto Raptors in seven games during the second round of the playoffs before taking down the Milwaukee Bucks in the conference finals during a series that also lasted seven games.
Although Philadelphia was ultimately unable to overcome a Los Angeles Lakers team led by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, Iverson still averaged 35.6 points per game during the series. He also generated one of the NBA's most iconic moments by stepping over Lakers guard Tyronn Lue in a Game 1 victory.
The 76ers have not advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs since.
Nurse will have a tough road ahead as he attempts to help the 76ers go on a deep postseason run, as Philadelphia currently holds the No. 7 seed in the East with a record of 45-35. The team fell into a late slump following the loss of superstar Joel Embiid to a knee injury, although the reigning MVP is back on the floor and has suited up in four of the past five games.
With Embiid and All-Star point guard Tyrese Maxey healthy, the 76ers will be a dangerous playoff squad that could pull off a first-round upset over a higher-seeded team.
