The Philadelphia 76ers have lofty expectations in their expected return to the playoffs, and rightfully so. This time, they should be able to have a much healthier and more dominant version of Joel Embiid, as well as the best form of Tyrese Maxey yet, who has been leading the team and playing at an MVP level in Year 6.
Maxey’s numbers do pop off the page, but if there is one impressive thing about him which people barely talk about, it is his uncanny skill when it comes to taking care of the ball. Despite leading the entire NBA in minutes per outing, the All-Star guard turns the ball over just 2.5 times per game, which is basically unheard of for someone who enjoys the kind of ample usage that he has.
The two-time All-Star has always been a strong ball protector, and this quality of his should translate pretty well when the stakes are higher. And with their most frequent ball handler rarely coughing the ball up, it is not a surprise that the 76ers are the fifth-best team (as of writing) at limiting their own turnovers.
The 76ers are pretty good at taking care of the ball thanks to Tyrese Maxey
Philly turns the ball over just under 14 times per outing, which is an impressive mark for a team that does not really have an established, natural point guard. They have Maxey to thank for that, because as mentioned, he has become a very reliable ball handler who rarely yields to opposing defenses and the attendant pressure as a ball-dominant star.
The 76ers need any kind of edge they can get as they start marching toward a playoff spot. And if they want to make a deep playoff run, playing clean basketball will be of utmost importance. After all, having a boatload of talent will not cut it when you are prone to coughing the ball up and halting your own momentum.
Maxey has always been a low-turnover star, which is definitely one of the best things about him. He might not be a top-tier playmaker, but taking care of the rock is also a crucial aspect of playing point guard, at least nominally.
If the 76ers can find a way to optimize their talent even more, being a low-turnover group will pay huge dividends. Possessions become way more important during the playoffs, and keeping the ball on your court will only give them the required platform to leverage the amount of talent they have.