Tyrese Maxey Bucks

Tyrese Maxey was elite in the Philadelphia 76ers season debut, makes strong case to be the team’s lead ball handler

Well, Philadelphia 76ers fans. It’s time. Just one game in to the 2023-24 regular season and the debate is already over. What I’m about to tell you in this post is in no world “premature” like some of you boys’ upcoming Friday nights. Tyrese Maxey is the lead ball handler of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Listen, ever since Maxey fell to the Sixers at pick No. 21 in the 2020 draft, I have told everyone who reads The Liberty Line that he was an absolute stud and the steal of that draft class and just one game into this season, Maxey is ready to take over the lead ball handling duties for the Philadelphia 76ers.

I Repeat: Tyrese Maxey is the lead ball handler of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Maxey, who as many of you know, is a point guard who has endured every roadblock in the way of preventing him from stepping into his true calling. From Ben Simmons to Doc Rivers to James Harden, he never really had the opportunity to lead this basketball team.

Tyrese Maxey was phenomenal in the Sixers’ season opener against the NBA title-favorite Milwaukee Bucks. He recorded 31 points, eight assists, four rebounds, and two steals. Arguably, one of the most impressive aspects of his game last night was that he didn’t record a single turnover. all while taking on the task of playing point guard due to the glorious absence of James Harden.

Tyrese Maxey’s improvements last night for the Sixers

A big talking point among Sixers fans is how the team would replace Harden’s playmaking and pick-and-roll game with Joel Embiid. Nobody wants to hear it, but that was undoubtedly a huge positive Harden provided for the team.

I’ve always believed if given the opportunity, Maxey could excel in the half-court, a two-person game with the big fellow.

Think about it: Embiid is one of the best paint scorers and mid-range shooters in the league, and you pair that with Maxey’s game-changing speed and elite three-point shooting, you have a dangerous offensive set.

Also worth noting, Joel Embiid, a notoriously slow starter to any NBA season, scored 24 points on 9-for-21 shooting with six assists of his own.

The beauty of this is that it makes Nick Nurse’s job incredibly easy. The new team dynamic has been all about ball and player movement, but you will always have this set to go to whenever you need some offense or if the team has been stalling.

While Maxey and Embiid are still learning to play with each other, there will not be as many growing pains due to this being very similar to how Harden ran the offense last year. The only difference is that Maxey is a threat to score from anywhere on the court, unlike Harden, who was very inconsistent last year.

Not to mention, Maxey’s speed changes everything.

Timely buckets and a feel for the game

Aside from facilitating, I would argue the most important aspect of playing point guard in today’s NBA is your overall feel of the game, and your ability to flow the team. Maxey was sensational last night in both aspects. He was the most responsible for keeping the Sixers in that game, where they trailed by as much as nearly 20 points. His scoring wasn’t just effective and efficient, but it felt so timely, every time he decided to attack.

Maxey struggled early on in his career to balance his explosion for the Sixers. He became predictable, and obviously since then the improvements to his three-point shot, mid-range, handle, and even his change of speed, have made him truly unstoppable.

The last thing I wanted to touch on, was Maxey’s ability to draw fouls. He shot an impressive 10 free throws last night, and it certainly looks like that could be a trend this season. He appears to have added more strength to his frame as well as just simply seeking contact and finishing hard at the rim.

Plus, no longer a “young guy” in the league, we’ll definitely see more calls fall his way.

Honestly, Sixers fans, I understand entirely any terrible vibes or disinterest you may have for this team, but with Nick Nurse at the helm and hopefully Maxey having the keys to this team permanently, I think this team will be a fun watch on a nightly basis this year.

76ers vs Bucks Game Notes:

The Philadelphia 76ers opened the 2023-24 season last night in Milwaukee, falling just short of a thrilling comeback victory in a 118-117 loss to the Bucks. 

In his Bucks’ debut, Damian Lillard scored 39 points, the largest in any Milwaukee debut, passing Terry Cummings who scored 24 back in 1984. 

For the Sixers, Joel Embiid, a notoriously slow starter to any NBA season, scored 24 points on 9-for-21 shooting. Tyrese Maxey scored 31 and Kelly Oubre Jr. who was making his Sixers’ debut, posted 27 of the Sixers’ 32 bench points on 9-for-11 shooting. 

Philadelphia 76ers Scoring Leaders 

  • Tyrese Maxey: 31 PTS, 8 AST, 2 STL
  • Kelly Oubre Jr: 27 PTS, 9-11 FG, 5-6 3PT
  • Joel Embiid: 24 PTS, 6 AST, 7 TO 
  • Tobias Harris: 20 PTS, 8-9 FG, 3-3 3PT

In his Bucks’ debut, Damian Lillard scored 39 points, the largest in any Milwaukee debut, passing Terry Cummings who scored 24 back in 1984. 

For the Sixers, Joel Embiid, a notoriously slow starter to any NBA season, scored 24 points on 9-for-21 shooting. Tyrese Maxey scored 31 and Kelly Oubre Jr. who was making his Sixers’ debut, posted 27 of the Sixers’ 32 bench points on 9-for-11 shooting. 

Philadelphia 76ers Scoring Leaders 

  • Tyrese Maxey: 31 PTS, 8 AST, 2 STL
  • Kelly Oubre Jr: 27 PTS, 9-11 FG, 5-6 3PT
  • Joel Embiid: 24 PTS, 6 AST, 7 TO 
  • Tobias Harris: 20 PTS, 8-9 FG, 3-3 3PT
Mandatory Credit: Getty Images

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