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It's funny how time changes things. Just last year, Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Dan Burke wasn't too impressed with superstar Joel Embiid. Burke was then part of the Indiana Pacers coaching staff who witnessed a 32-11 masterpiece from Embiid last year when the Sixers visited Indiana and won 119-116. Burke went on to rant post-game on how the big man “gets away with a bunch of crap”.
Now, Burke finds himself in an awkward position as he's set to join head coach Doc Rivers and a revamped Philly coaching unit. Embiid though was first to admit that things are more than okay between him and his new Sixers assistant coach.
“We're great,” Embiid said of Burke (via ESPN). “I think he's a great guy. We've actually been very close since we got here (with the Sixers). I think him and the whole coaching staff is going to kind of look at me to kind of be the driving force of the defense, especially when we talk about being the Defensive Player of the Year, just making sure we have the best defense in the league protecting the rim. Which, I mean, the past couple of years when I've been on the floor we've always had most likely the best defense in the league, so they're going to look for me to keep it going and keep that same energy.”
Embiid also went on to describe how it's easy to dish out all those trash talking when you're part of two competitive teams like the Sixers and the Pacers.
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Burke's former team ended up winning the season series against the Sixers — Indiana won three of their four games in the shortened 2019-2020 season.
“It's harder when you play against somebody that plays that way, but when you're actually on the same team, I'm sure he's going to love it. We're going to get fouls, we're going to foul people out, we're going to get to the free throw line, we're going to score a lot of points.” he added. “It's going to be fun.”
Burke, who's been known to be one of the best defensive-minded tacticians in the league, is hoping to add more teeth to the Sixers' defense to help them achieve their ultimate goal of winning a championship. The ingredients have been there for the past few seasons now but it hasn't really worked out well for the organization. Hopefully, with a new head chef in Rivers and a brand new kitchen staff with the likes of Burke, a championship team arises.
