
Nick Nurse: I’m going to tell you how it really is out there
We all love Nick Nurse, there’s no doubt about it. The second-year coach is doing well so far, but also isn’t afraid to explain his disdain with the referees or (GULP!) his own players on his team.
After a fractured thumb to Kyle Lowry and a sprained ankle for Serge Ibaka, Nurse had this to say before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers:
Nurse: "We all didn't think we were very deep at all a couple weeks ago. I've been saying we got 8 guys I really like and 3 guys are missing. So I'm gonna have to start liking a few more guys here pretty quickly. This is their chance."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) November 11, 2019
While he summed up the moment with a chummy “This is their chance,” he still basically illuminated the fact that he doesn’t particularly like anybody beyond his initial eight guys that he rode for the start of the season.
It was already apparent after his comments about Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Stanley Johnson before the season began, but he really is doubling down here, so to speak, about his opinion.
But, Nurse wasn’t going to just chastise the bench unit this week, either. He had this to say about Pascal Siakam’s foul trouble in the first few games:
Nick Nurse with some strong words on Pascal Siakam's early-season foul trouble: "He hasn't been very smart, if you want me to be honest with you. Most of those have been fouls and they're touch fouls... He needs to knock it off."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) November 5, 2019
Yet, I would be more inclined to tease Nurse about this if, in fact, it wasn’t working. Lo and behold, however, it ostensibly has been working! Siakam has been fouling less often and the bench mob sparked a comeback victory over the Lakers that trickled into the Los Angeles Clippers game before the team ran out of fuel.
Additionally, I would be remiss if I didn’t include the fact that even the referees aren’t getting any rest against Nurse. After the Clippers game he had this to say:
Nurse was careful not to take a fine but was clearly VERY upset over the officiating tonight. He said his team outplayed the Clippers and got to the rim but wishes the game was called the same on both ends.
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) November 12, 2019
Of course, as Josh Lewenberg said, he tiptoed the line between too much criticism and not enough, but he is certainly making his case understood. Likewise, the best coaches in the NBA often find a balance between criticizing and applauding players and referees alike. Nurse seems well on his way to mastering this skill.
Whatever Jedi mind trick Nurse is implementing to create a fire under his team is working. So, keep mouthing off, Nurse, the players are responding!