3 players who must step up moving forward: Tyrese Maxey
It can be almost considered what the Philadelphia 76ers have asked Tyrese Maxey to do this season is unfair. He’s a mid-first round pick from the 2020 NBA Draft and didn’t have super high expectation entering the NBA.
Despite showing flashes of great play last season, he was in and out of the rotation. If the 76ers had a normal season and Simmons was active on the roster instead of getting fined by the team again (via Wojnarowski), then Maxey would be a sixth man. Instead he’s been the team’s starter and has been solid enough in that role.
Thus far this season he’s averaging 14.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.8 turnovers while making 51.5 percent from the floor and 34.8 percent from downtown. These are all career highs from the second year point guard and some could argue that the 76ers can’t ask anymore of him.
They probably shouldn’t ask much more, but they need more from him. He’s been steadily improving from the 3-point line as the year has progressed but he needs to continue that improvement. He also has to become even more of a playmaker. He’s the starting point guard but he hasn’t had a game where he’s controlled the pace of the game. That needs to change if the Sixers want to survive this long regular season.
The Philadelphia 76ers are off to a great start, but they need Joe, Thybulle, and Maxey to step up more in order for the club to sustain this initial success.