Welcome Tyrese Maxey!

[Foshan]

Maxey has all the tools, just needs to figure out how to use them aside from scoring. When Harden fouled out, he had a lot of favorable matchups up top. Took advantage of some, I thought passed up others. He still hasn't figured out how to run an offense yet, as in beat his man, drive, and when help defense slides over, find the open man.

Imagine if Maxey can get harden to train with him this summer. Maxey comes back with Harden’s handle… harden comes back not obese! Win-win!

[zaz102]

Maxey has all the tools, just needs to figure out how to use them aside from scoring. When Harden fouled out, he had a lot of favorable matchups up top. Took advantage of some, I thought passed up others. He still hasn't figured out how to run an offense yet, as in beat his man, drive, and when help defense slides over, find the open man.

Imagine if Maxey can get harden to train with him this summer. Maxey comes back with Harden’s handle… harden comes back not obese! Win-win!

I think I heard of this. Don't they have to do some sort of fusion dance?

[FlyingArrow]

I was talking with a few friends about Maxey. One of them asked how fair it was to say that Maxey is one of the fastest players that ever lived. Thoughts? I think Prime Westbrook is probably the fastest player ever, followed by some combination of Iverson, Rose, and Isaiah.

Westbrook is fast, but not fastest ever he's in about the same class as the others you mentioned, but actually slightly below. Westbrook was an athletic marvel, as was Rose, when both of them went for dunks it looked like they were shot out of a canon, insane fast-twitch muscles. I believe Fox is also ridiculously fast.

Fox is crazy fast.

[Ferry Avenue]

This team needs to work to get Maxey more involved offensively in every game.

Multiple regression with point differential (win or loss margin) as the dependent variable and with scoring by 1) Embiid, 2) Harden, 3) Harris, 4) Maxey, and 5) the bench as the independent variables reveals that the only significant predictor of point differential for this team in the games James Harden has played is Tyrese Maxey's scoring (p = 0.01). All other independent variables are non-significant in predicting point differential. This team rises and falls with Tyrese Maxey.

When you watch this team play a game and it's gone through some significant period of time in which Maxey hasn't taken an expected number of shots (i.e., the first half yesterday), you can expect that to be either 1) a scoring drought for the team overall, and/or 2) a significant part of the loss of a game. Certainly there will be exceptions to the rule, but the rule determines that Maxey needs to be a significant focus of the offensive gameplan throughout games.

[Arsenal]

Prob is Harden is useless off the ball because he refuses to C&S. If he could function as a spacer we could spam Maxey/Embiid high PnR with Harden on the court.

[Ferry Avenue]

Prob is Harden is useless off the ball because he refuses to C&S. If he could function as a spacer we could spam Maxey/Embiid high PnR with Harden on the court.

The team needs to go ahead and force that in my opinion, because Maxey is the far more threatening player off the dribble in that scenario, and Harden still has the ability to hit wide open threes. The entire playoffs could be hinging on that change.

[mjkvol]

The idea that making Harden a C&S guy while Maxey runs the offense is utterly asinine on its face. This team is not properly put together at this point to make a serious championship run, and anyone that looked at it even remotely objectively after the trade knew that.

But to take a lead guard whose playmaking and gravity has made everyone in the lineup better, especially Harris and Maxey, and turn him into Georges Niang? It's laughable to even think about it.

The Sixers need to tighten the roster up after the season, and Harden needs to work on alternate ways to score the ball, which will help his game age better. But handing Maxey the ball, without the gravity of Harden and Embiid to create the space he thrives in as a solution right now? I don't even know how to address something so ridiculous.

[Ferry Avenue]

The idea that making Harden a C&S guy while Maxey runs the offense is utterly asinine on its face. This team is not properly put together at this point to make a serious championship run, and anyone that looked at it even remotely objectively after the trade knew that.

But to take a lead guard whose playmaking and gravity has made everyone in the lineup better, especially Harris and Maxey, and turn him into Georges Niang? It's laughable to even think about it.

The Sixers need to tighten the roster up after the season, and Harden needs to work on alternate ways to score the ball, which will help his game age better. But handing Maxey the ball, without the gravity of Harden and Embiid to create the space he thrives in as a solution right now? I don't even know how to address something so ridiculous.

The team has to hand Maxey the ball at times. Its fortunes ride on it. All that stuff that may happen in the future is sure well-intentioned and great if it happens, but this team right now needs Tyrese Maxey to score. That's been confirmed objectively.

Certainly you aren't going to deny Maxey more involvement in the offense on the notion that 2021-2022 is a "throwaway year" because "all the great stuff will happen in the future." These players want to win and are putting in the work to win, and you owe it to them to do what wins.

[mjkvol]

The idea that making Harden a C&S guy while Maxey runs the offense is utterly asinine on its face. This team is not properly put together at this point to make a serious championship run, and anyone that looked at it even remotely objectively after the trade knew that.

But to take a lead guard whose playmaking and gravity has made everyone in the lineup better, especially Harris and Maxey, and turn him into Georges Niang? It's laughable to even think about it.

The Sixers need to tighten the roster up after the season, and Harden needs to work on alternate ways to score the ball, which will help his game age better. But handing Maxey the ball, without the gravity of Harden and Embiid to create the space he thrives in as a solution right now? I don't even know how to address something so ridiculous.

The team has to hand Maxey the ball at times. Its fortunes ride on it. All that stuff that may happen in the future is sure well-intentioned and great if it happens, but this team right now needs Tyrese Maxey to score. That's been confirmed objectively.

Certainly you aren't going to deny Maxey more involvement in the offense on the notion that 2021-2022 is a "throwaway year" because "all the great stuff will happen in the future." These players want to win and are putting in the work to win, and you owe it to them to do what wins.

I'm not minimizing Maxey in the least, as his lack of effectiveness was a factor in those two games as much as his spark was huge in the first two games. But the idea that handing him the ball is "doing what will win" right now is absurd.

His effectiveness has been primarily because of the space afforded him to attack from the gravity Harden provides, and countering what Toronto did defensively as well as Harris, Green, and Niang actually hitting shots will be what frees up space for Maxey. Giving him the ball as the primary option? He's not a playmaker at this point, and Nurse would shut him down in a second with doubles and help.

And regarding the 'throwaway year' narrative - that is my (and others here) opinion and expectation, not what I would expect anyone actually competing to believe. Of course they want to win, and that's what Harden was acquired to help with.

What is needed now is for the coaches need to get them back to the free flowing game we saw last week, and nothing would help that more than the shooters (including Maxey) making their 3's, which will create the space for Harden and Maxey. Suggesting that the team's fortunes ride on Maxey being handed the ball? You're once again creating a scenario that is clearly not going to happen so that you look like the smartest guy in the room when they are eliminated by Miami or Boston.

[Ferry Avenue]

The idea that making Harden a C&S guy while Maxey runs the offense is utterly asinine on its face. This team is not properly put together at this point to make a serious championship run, and anyone that looked at it even remotely objectively after the trade knew that.

But to take a lead guard whose playmaking and gravity has made everyone in the lineup better, especially Harris and Maxey, and turn him into Georges Niang? It's laughable to even think about it.

The Sixers need to tighten the roster up after the season, and Harden needs to work on alternate ways to score the ball, which will help his game age better. But handing Maxey the ball, without the gravity of Harden and Embiid to create the space he thrives in as a solution right now? I don't even know how to address something so ridiculous.

The team has to hand Maxey the ball at times. Its fortunes ride on it. All that stuff that may happen in the future is sure well-intentioned and great if it happens, but this team right now needs Tyrese Maxey to score. That's been confirmed objectively.

Certainly you aren't going to deny Maxey more involvement in the offense on the notion that 2021-2022 is a "throwaway year" because "all the great stuff will happen in the future." These players want to win and are putting in the work to win, and you owe it to them to do what wins.

I'm not minimizing Maxey in the least, as his lack of effectiveness was a factor in those two games as much as his spark was huge in the first two games. But the idea that handing him the ball is "doing what will win" right now is absurd.

His effectiveness has been primarily because of the space afforded him to attack from the gravity Harden provides, and countering what Toronto did defensively as well as Harris, Green, and Niang actually hitting shots will be what frees up space for Maxey. Giving him the ball as the primary option? He's not a playmaker at this point, and Nurse would shut him down in a second with doubles and help.

And regarding the 'throwaway year' narrative - that is my (and others here) opinion and expectation, not what I would expect anyone actually competing to believe. Of course they want to win, and that's what Harden was acquired to help with.

What is needed now is for the coaches need to get them back to the free flowing game we saw last week, and nothing would help that more than the shooters (including Maxey) making their 3's, which will create the space for Harden and Maxey. Suggesting that the team's fortunes ride on Maxey being handed the ball? You're once again creating a scenario that is clearly not going to happen so that you look like the smartest guy in the room when they are eliminated by Miami or Boston.

Somehow you're again making this about me when it's really just about data. The team is far more likely to win when Maxey gets his points, far more than is the case for any other player including the bench, so it should strive to avoid games or significant stretches of games in which his involvement in the offense is impoverished. Accomplish that however you want, but realize the team's fortunes hinge on it.

[phillynative]

I believe the already good duo of Harden and Maxey both have work to do to compliment each other and rise the ceiling of the team. This summer is a possibility for them to be great. The hope is Harden slims down& regains some speed, be a more willing C&S threat, and build more chemisty with teammates. Maxey continues to improves as the 2nd scorer and 1st scorer when needed.

Maxey came in as a small slashing 2 guard with 3 way scoring potential. His handles are tight but not as creative as you want from from your 2 guard if hes a scorer thats average defender, playmaker and not exactly a sniper. Harden compliments that with his elite playmaking and great size at the 1 but his game is not versatile enough to take him off the ball in long stretches. When Harden is struggling to get past defenders or finish thats where he needs to be taken off the ball for stretches to shake up the defense. Its the same way the sixers shouldnt force the ball into Embiid when hes being triple teamed.

Maxeys next level can alleviate Hardens lack of burst and finishing ability and Embiids struggles with triple teams, end of game fatigue.

Essentially you want Maxey going into the offseason with the task of making him self more of a offensive threat(playmaking , advance ball handling, take over ability ). 8 out of 10 times Maxeys ,ball handling , speed and shooting /finish ability now should afford him the shots that he wants every time. Right now he is a good scorer but solid not good shot creator because of his lack of advance ball handling, counters and court vision.

With his work ethic & talent that could be attainable this summer.

[SixthStreet]

Maxey is definitely not a 1v1 scorer. He got stoned a few times trying to do that in game 4. He doesn't have the ability to change directions and speeds or the handle required when he has to break down a locked in defender in front of him without the advantage of speed or space.

Not a big critique TBH, because if he could he'd already be Kyrie. But it is a big reason why there is a huge difference between the ball in Harden's hands in the half court vs. Maxey's.

[Ferry Avenue]

Maxey is definitely not a 1v1 scorer. He got stoned a few times trying to do that in game 4. He doesn't have the ability to change directions and speeds or the handle required when he has to break down a locked in defender in front of him without the advantage of speed or space.

Not a big critique TBH, because if he could he'd already be Kyrie. But it is a big reason why there is a huge difference between the ball in Harden's hands in the half court vs. Maxey's.

Right, and so when you put the ball in his hands you don’t call that set. You call a pick and roll with him and Embiid. The point is that he needs greater shooting opportunities, because it’s a proven fact this team rises and falls as a function of his number of points. So let his role in the offense be impoverished at your own peril.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

I don't even think the game has necessarily slowed down for him yet. Players talk about that a lot and it's true. I'm interested to see what he becomes once that actually happens for him. Like I said before, once he's a complete player I see similarities of Jrue and Mitchell out in Utah.

[phillynative]

I don't even think the game has necessarily slowed down for him yet. Players talk about that a lot and it's true. I'm interested to see what he becomes once that actually happens for him. Like I said before, once he's a complete player I see similarities of Jrue and Mitchell out in Utah.

I can see a smaller less explosive Mitchell. But jrue?

[Negrodamus]

I don't even think the game has necessarily slowed down for him yet. Players talk about that a lot and it's true. I'm interested to see what he becomes once that actually happens for him. Like I said before, once he's a complete player I see similarities of Jrue and Mitchell out in Utah.

I can see a smaller less explosive Mitchell. But jrue?

He’s actually around the same height, if not bigger, than Mitchell.

[blargh]

Increasing Maxey’s usage is not the same as putting him more on-ball. He actually was not on-ball for that much time in Game 1. He was put in good position to attack seams and finish possessions.

[Ferry Avenue]

Increasing Maxey’s usage is not the same as putting him more on-ball. He actually was not on-ball for that much time in Game 1. He was put in good position to attack seams and finish possessions.

Do it however you want, but he has to get his shots. His involvement in the offense can't be impoverished.

[Mik317]

yeah.

he goes through too many stretches of ghosting.

[Arsenal]

1) Maxey is not ready yet to be the primary lead guard. Needs to work on his handles to be able to create space in ISO, along with his passing. Right now our best option is for Harden to run the show.

2) Maxey will need to become that guy in time. This offense will truly be unstoppable when he and Harden can both run the show at a high level.

Both things can be true.