And One Big Reason They Should
When the Golden State Warriors moved on from Mark Jackson to hire Steve Kerr, it electrified a championship run that was nearly unmatched in NBA history. And all they really did was change the coach: refocus a little.
For the Bucks, there may be hope the same could happen if they hire former Raptors head Coach Nick Nurse. Just that change and tweak at the helm can change your luck, change your direction and help your professional, veteran players succeed. This could be a time to “reorganize and refocus”.
But the hiring of Nick Nurse is not a “done deal”. Click on the related link if you want to know what tons of fans think.
Related: Bucks Fans Want Nick Nurse
#1- The Job Might be Charles Lee’s to Lose
Nick Nurse is possibly the best outside candidate, but could assistant coach Charles Lee be the frontrunner? After watching Darvin Ham and Taylor Jenkins have success in the NBA, maybe Bucks management is envious of the success of other Budenholzer assistants. Charles Lee is certainly ready to be a head coach. And similar to Nick Nurse (who was an assistant for five years in Toronto before he became head coach) Lee has paid his dues.
Lee might also have the ear of the Giannis camp.
Lee is 38. He also has professional hoops experience. He played in the summer league and in the preseason with the Spurs before he was cut. He then went on to have some success playing professionally in Europe.
That resume matters in the NBA, especially with a team with the personality of the Bucks.
#2- Was Nurse a “one-hit” wonder?
Nick Nurse won an NBA Championship in his first season as the Head Coach of the Raptors. The COVID season was not very good for him or his team as one can only imagine what the travel restrictions did to the club’s morale.
Nurse is 237-170 overall in his coaching career. That’s pretty good.
Plus, Nurse was able to develop players after he lost Kawhi Leonard and others. Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet owe him a debt of gratitude. So, I guess to answer the question, “one championship in four years does not make you a “one-hit wonder” anymore that Coach Bud’s one championship in five years of coaching would.
The Big Reason Nurse should be Hired
Nick Nurse is really known for looking out for his players, especially when it comes to contracts and money. On the JJ Redick podcast “The Old Man and the Three”, Nurse talked quite about helping guys get better and longer contracts.
That really shows he understands how to motivate and get the most out of his guys.
Also, Nurse seems to be a coach and a personality that is able to step up to the limelight. While his defenses are not renowned, he has been known to make interesting, if not sometimes volatile, in-game changes. Many players have spoken about there being a “plan”, and then whatever crazy plays Nurse scribbles down during the game.
Nurse has a proven system, a proven name and a proven style that might be a great fit in Milwaukee. He’ll really play the starters hard. His offense is not so reliant on the three. Nurse really tends to emphasize not turning over the ball. (Toronto led the league last year in protecting the ball.) He really has a system and set of coaching principles that might be more of a solution than a problem.
The Bucks franchise has even said so in a statement.
A letter from Bucks General Manager Jon Horst and Team President Peter Feigin. pic.twitter.com/8Y8t8V918x
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) May 4, 2023
Keep an eye here on Wi Sports Heroics as we continue to update the Bucks Coaching Situation.
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