If the Philadelphia 76ers make noise in the Eastern Conference this season, it will be because of their trio of Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul George and the lineup versatility unlocked by their guard depth. Philadelphia’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday proved how effective that combination can be.
The 76ers boasted five double-digit scorers in their 123-108 win over the Mavericks at American Airlines Center last night. They enjoyed much offensive success because of the spacing that their three-guard lineups provide. It encouraged a movement-heavy, four-out system, in which Maxey, Embiid and George all carved out roles, showcasing this team’s potential if they remain healthy.
Philadelphia employed a variety of multi-guard rotations that included VJ Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes and Jared McCain. While their individual performances varied, each provided spacing and movement, helping the 76ers build a second-quarter lead that they never gave back. Philadelphia (18-14) totaled 41 points in the frame to outscore Dallas (12-23) by 17, which essentially decided the game.
Those 12 minutes showed how potent the 76ers’ offense can be when they are near full health and have cohesion. Not to mention, they accomplished this without Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain). Still, Philadelphia shot 53.3% from the field against a stingy Mavericks defense that allows teams to shoot 46.3% on average–the sixth-best mark in the NBA.
Tyrese Maxey led the charge with 34 points on 68.3% true shooting, 10 assists, eight rebounds and two steals and blocks. His success was a product of the 76ers’ pace-and-space offense, as their smaller lineups featured shooters who drew help defenders, allowing him to gather many paint touches. He was at his best when attacking in early offense and warping Dallas’ defense within Philadelphia’s first action.
But, Maxey didn’t do it alone.
He and Embiid have redeveloped the chemistry that guided them to be one of the NBA’s better one-two punches. Per usual, the 76ers’ offensive process revolved around Maxey/Embiid two-man actions, which served them both well. Embiid’s dribble handoffs yielded the guard three-point opportunities while he forged the center an easy path to his mid-range spots off pick-and-rolls. Maxey assisted nine of Embiid’s 22 points, helping him to achieve his 11th game of the season reaching at least 30 points and 10 assists.
While George wasn’t directly involved in the offense he got in where he fit in. He scored in transition, using Philadelphia’s defense efforts for good, including his second dunk of the year. The forward tried isolating on the low post and the 76ers aimed to get him going by supplying him with down-screens, so that he’d receive the ball off motion. The results were mixed, as George finished with 14 points on 5-11 shooting, but his role within the offense is starting to become normalized.
However, it was his actions without the ball that put the cherry on top of Philadelphia’s smaller lineups. Dominick Barlow fouled out in only 18 minutes, resulting in George mostly playing power forward for the rest of the game. His spacing from the corners stretched out Dallas’ sizable front-court, which made it easier for Embiid to operate in the post and for overall drive-and-kicks.
Make no mistake, Edgecombe and Grimes didn’t just space the floor as they contributed 23 and 19 points, respectively. The 20-year-old has grown accustomed to his increased ball-handling duties, whether he is attacking off the dribble or initiating pick-and-rolls. Meanwhile, Grimes broke out of what was nearly a month-long shooting slump, tallying five threes, providing his coveted two-way impact.
Philadelphia may not receive such balanced scoring on a nightly basis, but yesterday proved that its roster construction can work. Fans have campaigned for the team to surround Embiid with more versatility and athleticism and it unlocked the 76ers’ read-and-react offense in a way it never has before. This is a positive step towards becoming a true threat in the Eastern Conference, but they must continue to build with each game.