Sixers: 3 players who have improved next to James Harden
3 Sixers who have improved next to James Harden — Tyrese Maxey
Tyrese Maxey’s numbers have skyrocketed in four games next to James Harden: 26.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on .649/.700/.864 shooting splits. He won’t hit 70 percent of his 3s all season, but Harden’s arrival has clearly unlocked another gear in Maxey’s game.
The 21-year-old looks supremely comfortable as an off-guard — not what we all expected given his early-season growing pains next to Embiid. With the bulk of the defensive attention split between Harden and Embiid, Maxey is receiving passes with endless oceans of space to operate on the perimeter. His subsequent decisiveness — either using his speed to attack the rim, or firing quick 3s — has been his greatest development in a season defined by of rapid improvement.
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Once a timid and uncertain shooter, Maxey is drilling every manner of 3-point shot. He’s making them off the catch, he’s breaking out the Harden step-back, he’s pulling up out of the pick-and-roll. It has been a four-game announcement of Maxey’s arrival as the real third star in Philadelphia.
His shooting percentages will come back down to earth, but Maxey’s decision-making has been on point next to Harden. He’s playing more aggressively (in part because of Harden’s leadership) and he has more room to operate than ever before. We should continue to see big nights from the Kentucky product.