Joel Embiid’s pick-and-roll call a sign of growing collaboration between Sixers and new staff

The 76ers punished the Washington Wizards on Monday night with a heavy dose of the side pick-and-roll between Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, igniting a 48-point performance for the reigning NBA MVP and a career-high 11 assists (and zero turnovers) for the rising star point guard.

Following the game, Embiid shared that he told coach Nick Nurse, “Don’t even call nothing anymore. Let’s just keep running it.”

“I said, ‘Let’s do it,’” Nurse recalled after Tuesday’s practice. “So we did it.”

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That is an example of the growing collaboration between Sixers players and the first-year coaching staff. Nurse said he has always aimed to empower players to have such dialogue, but acknowledged it takes time to establish the comfort required to speak up. Veteran forward Tobias Harris, though, described that dynamic as already “pretty open and transparent” six games into the regular season.

“I enjoy, ‘What do you see? What should we do? What can we do better to help you?’” Nurse said. “These guys are super high-level. They put a lot into the game. They’re intelligent. I just want us to be as good as we can be, and I think that takes everybody.

“Everybody’s concentration. Everybody’s ideas. Everybody’s thoughts. I’ve always tried to have that open type of conversation.”

Since opening the regular season with consecutive road games, the Sixers have been in the midst of a five-game homestand over 12 days — capped by Wednesday’s marquee showdown against the Boston Celtics.

That offered plenty of time for practice, which was particularly valuable after four new players were acquired in last week’s blockbuster James Harden trade. It’s also a change from the approach of former coach Doc Rivers, who did not hold formal full-team sessions when there was only one day in between games. The Sixers have done so twice in the past week alone: Friday and Tuesday.

“There’s still a lot to cover,” Nurse said. “We’ve learned about what more to cover probably after each and every game.”

The focuses on Tuesday, Nurse said, were to run “every counter to the defenses we’re seeing” so far during their 5-1 start. The coach added he was not thrilled about the Sixers’ defensive performance in their 146-128 win over the Wizards, but he also believes it was a fast-paced “aberration.”

“I’m not going to trip about it,” Nurse said.

Overall, the Sixers entered Wednesday ranked fifth in the NBA in defensive efficiency (107.3 points allowed per 100 possessions) and third in offensive efficiency (119.9 points per 100 possessions).

Patrick Beverley apologized in advance for making Tuesday’s media session brief. The veteran guard needed to “coach” the scrimmage played by nonrotation players, newcomers, and staff.

What exactly does that entail?

“I can’t give you all my answers,” said Beverley, who is averaging 2.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists through six games.

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Either way, Beverley’s commitment to the role was an appropriate follow-up to his behavior during the Sixers’ public preseason scrimmage in Wilmington last month. That afternoon, the always-fiery Beverley pulled out a whiteboard and barked out commands while patrolling the sideline.

Does he envision coaching once he wraps up his playing career?

“I always said when I was done, I was going to be done,” Beverley said. “But I don’t know. I like the game too much, so we’ll see.”