The Philadelphia 76ers' plans to integrate Kelly Oubre Jr. and Trendon Watford back into the starting lineup pose a tricky question for coach Nick Nurse: whose playing time will be cut?
Oubre, who has missed nearly two months with a knee injury, averaged over 37 minutes per game before going down on November 14th. Meanwhile, Watford, out for over a month with an adductor strain, logged 21.0 minutes per game before his injury on November 25th.
To make room for these two players in the rotation, Nurse will likely have to trim minutes from someone who has been playing well lately – VJ Edgecombe. The rookie is averaging nearly 36 minutes per game, which may not be sustainable given his limited collegiate experience.
Another potential casualty could be Jared McCain, who has struggled to make an impact on the court despite being given more playing time in recent weeks. Nurse believes that McCain just needs to play more, but McCain's struggles have persisted for over two months now.
The question of whether Oubre will replace Dominick Barlow in the starting lineup is also on the table. Oubre is a more valuable and versatile player than Barlow, with the ability to make an immediate impact off the bench. However, Nurse has emphasized the importance of continuity and sticking with one group whenever possible.
Ultimately, Nurse's options are limited, and every decision comes with drawbacks. One thing is clear, though: when Oubre and Watford return to the lineup, the Sixers will be in a position to find minutes for everyone on the team, making them the envy of other coaches in the league.
Oubre, who has missed nearly two months with a knee injury, averaged over 37 minutes per game before going down on November 14th. Meanwhile, Watford, out for over a month with an adductor strain, logged 21.0 minutes per game before his injury on November 25th.
To make room for these two players in the rotation, Nurse will likely have to trim minutes from someone who has been playing well lately – VJ Edgecombe. The rookie is averaging nearly 36 minutes per game, which may not be sustainable given his limited collegiate experience.
Another potential casualty could be Jared McCain, who has struggled to make an impact on the court despite being given more playing time in recent weeks. Nurse believes that McCain just needs to play more, but McCain's struggles have persisted for over two months now.
The question of whether Oubre will replace Dominick Barlow in the starting lineup is also on the table. Oubre is a more valuable and versatile player than Barlow, with the ability to make an immediate impact off the bench. However, Nurse has emphasized the importance of continuity and sticking with one group whenever possible.
Ultimately, Nurse's options are limited, and every decision comes with drawbacks. One thing is clear, though: when Oubre and Watford return to the lineup, the Sixers will be in a position to find minutes for everyone on the team, making them the envy of other coaches in the league.
! I've been following the 76ers all season and it's clear that Kelly Oubre Jr. is a game-changer 
. But at the same time, VJ Edgecombe has been playing lights out lately 
. It's tough because you want them both in the rotation. And Jared McCain... poor guy can't catch a break 
. I'm all for giving guys a chance to prove themselves, but it feels like he's just stuck in neutral right now 
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. He knows that when Oubre and Watford come back, they'll be able to give everyone on the team some quality minutes. That's what makes this team so special 
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. His collegiate experience is limited, and averaging 36 minutes per game might not be realistic for a rookie. I'm rooting for him to develop his skills, but if he can't handle the load, someone gotta take the fall 
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. He's a versatile player who can make an impact off the bench or start. The question is whether Nurse prioritizes continuity with the current lineup or brings in Oubre and Watford to give everyone more playing time 
. His struggles are real, but Nurse believes he just needs to play more. If that's the case, maybe Edgecombe takes a hit to let McCain get his groove back 
.
but nurse is worried about disruptin the flow of the team. maybe they should just play him off the bench for now & let barlow ride w/ edgecombe? not sure what the answer is 
... Oubre and Watford coming back means some player is gonna get benched 
. Edgecombe has been killing it with almost 36 minutes per game, but he's a rookie so might not be able to keep that up 
. And McCain... poor guy just can't seem to find his rhythm 
. As for Barlow, I think Oubre is the clear choice to come in and replace him 
. Nurse has to weigh the pros and cons of each decision, but it's clear he wants to play everyone 
. they're gonna have to decide who's getting benched and it's never an easy choice 
. i hope Kelly Oubre Jr comes back strong tho, he was on fire before he got hurt 
, even if it means less playing time for someone like Edgecombe or McCain 
. The thing that excites me most is seeing what the Sixers can do with those two healthy – we could be looking at a pretty formidable lineup 