Philadelphia 76ers: Tyrese Maxey needs to be primary perimeter focus

The numbers only tell half the story. It is nice to have hard evidence like that but watching Maxey confirms that he is ready to be leaned on. Maxey loves to get to his right-hand downhill to the rim or the paint. He can use the screen to pull up from three, flip the screen, and get to the midrange. He can also attack off the catch with his elite first step. With that, Maxey gets into the trees of the defense for contested layups.

It comes around every year, the playoffs. The defense closes up and things get tougher to come by. Maxey is a player that could feast in this half-court setting. The second-year guard takes care of the basketball as well, averaging only 1.2 turnovers this season.

The Sixers can learn even more about Tyrese Maxey if they empower him even more. It is a league that rewards younger guys being motors or major cogs to the machine of various NBA teams. A few examples of this are players like Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, and Donovan Mitchell.

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I’m only comparing the situation that they are all young guards/wings shouldering large loads to carry. The award of this tells Maxey and the Sixers where he could be and where is currently in his development. Experience never hurts anybody too badly. The reps are needed and lumps come with those reps.

There’s just one glaring negative that may hinder this and that is James Harden. Yea, I’m not too happy to write this but look at his past. The style of play that he specializes in is heavy elite iso ball where he is the sun in the solar system of the offense.

Leaving Harden’s attention span on offense only peaked when he gets the ball to do his thing. Maybe Maxey doing his thing will deter Harden from undivided attention on the court as a whole. I doubt it due to Harden’s confidence in Maxey but I’m just factoring in Harden’s past. Just a little nugget to think about why Maxey’s responsibility wouldn’t be heightened.

Hopefully, head coach Doc Rivers understands that Maxey is the best player to lead the offense when Harden needs a break since it appears he is seemingly nursing his hamstring and with Harden’s past Rivers and company can learn from their mistake. Rivers and the Philadelphia 76ers need to know that Maxey is the best card to play for this postseason offense. Another time where I feel as a viewer and writer that I have to hope that the coach is seeing what I’ve seen.