The Philadelphia 76ers may be trailing the Boston Celtics 2–1 in their playoff series, but the way the games have unfolded tells a far more complicated story than the scoreboard suggests. Despite missing Joel Embiid, Philadelphia has managed to push Boston into uncomfortable, grind-it-out battles that few expected from a short-handed roster. And much of that shift comes down to one familiar factor: head coach Nick Nurse.
While Boston entered the series as the healthier and deeper team, their path has not been smooth since Game 1. The 76ers have steadily made each matchup more physical, more tactical, and far less predictable. Even in defeat, Philadelphia has forced the Celtics to work for every advantage, rather than allowing them to dictate tempo and rhythm as they often do in dominant wins.
This approach is not new for Nurse. Across multiple playoff runs in his coaching career, he has developed a reputation for making elite offensive teams feel out of sync rather than outright shutting them down. A notable example came during his time with Toronto, when the Raptors repeatedly disrupted Boston’s flow in their 2020 playoff matchup. Even with roster limitations and injuries affecting both sides, Nurse’s defensive schemes and strategic adjustments turned that series into a far more competitive battle than many anticipated.
A similar pattern is beginning to emerge in this current matchup. Boston’s supporting cast has been less consistent, with role players struggling to find rhythm under constant defensive pressure. Philadelphia has focused on limiting clean looks for shooters and forcing the Celtics’ stars into tougher, more contested possessions. While Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown continue to produce at a high level, they’ve had to shoulder a heavier burden, logging extended minutes and carrying much of the offensive load just to secure wins.
That was especially evident in Game 3. Even in a victory, the Celtics were pushed deep into the fourth quarter before they could finally create enough separation. Their star duo had to remain on the floor for significant stretches, reflecting just how much resistance Philadelphia has been able to generate despite its injuries.
What makes this series intriguing is not necessarily whether Boston can advance—they remain the favorites—but how physically and mentally taxing each win has become. Nurse’s ability to disrupt timing, remove comfort from role players, and force stars into difficult decision-making situations is once again on display. It doesn’t guarantee a series win, but it does ensure that nothing comes easily.
For Boston, the challenge now is about endurance as much as execution. Every possession is becoming a test of patience, and every game is demanding maximum effort from their core players. Even when the Celtics are successful, they are not coasting—they are grinding.
In the end, this matchup is shaping up less like a straightforward series and more like a war of adjustments. And once again, Nick Nurse has managed to turn a talent gap into a tactical fight, ensuring that even a favored Celtics team cannot afford a single comfortable night on the floor.
