Sixers in ascent
A superstar turn for Tyrese Maxey allows patience.
Good morning. Let’s basketball.
The Philadelphia 76ers have the best record in the NBA at 8-1, and the second best net rating in the league at +11 per 100 possessions. They recently beat the only team above them in that category. (Round 2 is Wednesday.) They have the reigning MVP, Joel Embiid, who happens to be the league’s top scorer early this season. And they have a second star who just dropped 50 in Tyrese Maxey. The Sixers first began the season with James Harden on ice, then traded him for a pair of role players and picks, and at no time has the team seemed to miss a beat. It’s the perfect start to what could have been a messy opening act of the 2023-24 season.
What’s interesting about Maxey’s ascent is that the directional arc surprised no one. Many analysts have been flagging Maxey as a potential star for more than two years now. He became a full-time starter in 2021-22 at age 21, averaging an efficient 17 and 4 per night amid Ben Simmons’ protest and eventually Harden’s early exploits in Philly. The Sixers tied for the second best record in the East that season at 51 wins. It didn’t work out in the playoffs, but it was clear that Philadelphia had something in Maxey. What wasn’t clear was how Maxey fit alongside Harden, who committed to staying on a discount to help the Sixers add to the roster.
So Maxey began last season as a reserve, though he ended up starting 41 games as Doc Rivers shuffled the rotation and Harden missed 24 games. The numbers continued to rise: he averaged an efficient 20 in slightly fewer minutes, and it became clear that if the Sixers were going to extend him ahead of Year 4, it would need to be for very close to the max, if not all the way there. Tellingly, Maxey’s name wasn’t involved in many believable Damian Lillard trade talks: it was clear that he was too good as a 22-year-old to flip for a much older All-NBA caliber guard.
He also provided a fallback for Daryl Morey to remain patient with the Harden trade market. Just as Morey didn’t panic trade Simmons early in 2021-22 because he had an ascendant Maxey ready to take the backcourt reins, he didn’t panic trade Harden because Maxey was ready to take an even bigger role.
Here’s the surprise with Maxey: not the direction of his growth, but the scale and speed. It was clear going back at least two years that Maxey had the moxie and talent to be really good in the NBA. What wasn’t clear then is that Maxey had All-NBA moxie and talent, and would realize it as he turned 23 years old. He’s been arguably a top-4 guard in the league this season (with Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards and Stephen Curry). Jimmy Butler was once a Sixer, helping take the team a four-bounce shot away from the East finals. Simmons made All-NBA in his time in Philadelphia. Harden was wrongfully snubbed from an All-Star spot last season. Maxey, through nine games, is the best teammate Embiid has ever had. If he keeps this up, it’s not going to be close.
What makes this particular scenario so exciting is that because of how the Butler, Simmons and Harden situations ended — ugly, ugly, ugly — there is a certain air about the ascendant Embiid-Maxey era that feels especially fresh, joyful and deserved. There’s no baggage on Maxey, and his infectious smile and high-octane play lighten everyone. Vibes Matter (TM), and the levity of Maxey’s game and attitude change the tone of this franchise in important ways.
Interestingly, Embiid has always had a certain levity to his own game — the crotch chops, the online trolling, the loving relationship with Philly fans, the Bell — but his era is one that’s been weighed down by what’s happening around him and the team. The post-draft rehabilitation and setbacks and odd reporting, the Rookie of the Year debates, all the rumors that he and Simmons didn’t mesh, stuff around The Process and Sam Hinkie, stuff around Brett Brown’s relationship with Butler and the team, the bizarre Bryan Colangelo burner saga, the still-totally-weird Al Horford intermission, the post-Hawks Simmons unraveling, the not-always-smooth on-court fit with Harden, the playoff injuries and foibles, the increasingly gnarly MVP debates, the Harden contract unraveling: there’s a lot of weight heaped on Embiid’s Philadelphia career. Maxey’s ascent lightens it. It almost purifies the franchise in a way. With Maxey, at least so far, there’s no drama, there’s no tainted history, there’s no side-eye, there’s no competition for centrality. From the outside, it looks like it’s all love.
That could be the personalities: some people fit well together, and some don’t. It could be the arc of Maxey’s career to date, the fact that he’s small, that he was the 21st pick, that he doesn’t have trophies on his mantle, that he doesn’t have high-profile playoff struggles, that his next contract will not be remotely in question, that he clearly sees Embiid as the alpha, that he plays hard every possession, that he clearly gives a damn, that he hasn’t feuded with a coach. It could be anything and everything. Whatever the origin, it’s working beautifully.
Health will obviously be a key factor in the Sixers’ near-term future, with the Kelly Oubre Jr. injuries a serious concern given the team’s lack of scoring punch outside him, the two stars and Tobias Harris. Harris, by the way, often the forgotten Sixer, has played exceptional basketball during this hot team start. There’s analyst chatter now about the Sixers perhaps not focusing on adding a third star, but instead aiming toward two-way depth using part of their Harden trade haul.
This is what Maxey’s leap makes possible, though. The desperation has lifted for now. The tension between external impatience to salvage the Embiid era and Morey’s deal-focused patience has subsided. If the Sixers are this good without a trade to bring more talent in, that gives Morey more freedom to be picky, to be greedy, to be deliberate, which is where he has proven to be comfortable.
And in the meantime, a core that seems to all be on the same page can build up its on-court chemistry, keep fueling the good vibes and be a real threat in an Eastern Conference that had appeared to leave them behind. That’s what this is all about, after all: competing at the highest levels and giving yourself a chance to win a championship.
Hey, no one ever said The Process was a straight line.
Scores
Wizards 107, Raptors 111 — Washington was up 19 at the half, as many as 23 in the third quarter and 16 with 7:25 left in the game. In complete and utter control. Until they weren’t.
21-1 run for the Raptors to close and win the game.
The Raptors’ offense didn’t exactly blow the doors off down the stretch (though Pascal Siakam’s game-winner was nice), but they completely clamped down on what the Wizards were trying to do, even without O.G. Anunoby. One point in seven-plus minutes of game time is really hard. But with the Wizards, there is a path.
This is from a previous game, but it’s too good not to share.
Knicks 98, Celtics 114 — Close game until Boston went on a 17-4 run in the fourth to put it away. Jayson Tatum with 35 overall, 17 in the fourth.
This play by Josh Hart is complete galaxy brain stuff. Genius move to get the more open three.
The Knicks now sit at No. 14 in offense, No. 4 in defense. I think they are solidly better than their 5-5 record.
Bulls 109, Bucks 118 — Good fight from the Bulls in this one — I get the sense that Chicago’s veteran players knows something is doomed and are trying to change the team’s trajectory. But Giannis Antetokounmpo (35-11) is a lot and former Bull Bobby Portis was a stud off the bench.
Damian Lillard went 3/17 from the floor. DeMar DeRozan nearly matched that, going 3/14 from the floor. But DeRozan had this stunner of a pass so …
Milwaukee’s defense remains concerning overall.
Cavaliers 120, Kings 132 — De’Aaron Fox is back! He doesn’t look like he’s going full-speed just yet, but his presence unlocked a lot for the Sacramento offense. To wit: Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray and Kevin Huerter combined to shoot 24/34 from the floor.
Also, Murray guarded Donovan Mitchell most of the night and held him to 7/21 shooting. HMM.
One more game on this Western Conference road trip for the Cavaliers (Portland on Wednesday) before returning home. 1-2 so far. Been a weird start to the season.
In-Season Tournament Day 3
It’s another NBA Cup group stage night! Ten games in all. All times Eastern. Let’s get to it.
East A
Hawks (0-0) at Pistons (0-1), 7
Pacers (1-0) at Sixers (1-0), 7
Inactive: Cavaliers (0-1)
Big showdown between Indiana and Philadelphia. The Sixers still have Atlanta and Cleveland after this one, though. The Pacers have the Hawks and Pistons.
East B
Heat (1-0) at Hornets (1-0), 7
Inactive: Bucks (1-0), Knicks (0-1), Wizards (0-2)
Charlotte making the knockouts would be a wild twist here.
East C
Magic (0-0) at Nets (1-1), 7:30
Inactive: Celtics (1-0), Bulls (0-1), Raptors (0-0)
Brooklyn is going to be 75% done with group play after tonight and Toronto doesn’t play its first game until Friday. Weird!
West A
Blazers (1-0) at Jazz (1-0), 9
Grizzlies (0-2) at Lakers (1-0), 10:30
Inactive: Suns (0-1)
Wild that either the Blazers or Jazz will be 2-0 in group play after tonight. And if the Grizzlies beat the Lakers, either Portland or Utah would be in pole position to win the group. Root for chaos.
West B
Mavericks (1-1) at Pelicans (0-1), 8
Clippers (0-1) at Nuggets (1-0), 10, TNT
Inactive: Rockets (1-0)
Basically an elimination game between Dallas and New Orleans. Suddenly the Nuggets-Rockets game on Black Friday looms large?!
West C
Spurs (0-1) at Thunder (0-2), 7:30, TNT
Timberwolves (1-0) at Warriors (1-0), 10
Inactive: Kings (1-0)
Huge match between the Wolves and Warriors for tournament purposes, and Anthony Edwards ruining Golden State’s night purposes. But then Chet vs. Big Vic is great despite the low NBA Cup stakes.
Links
Tas Melas is back on No Dunks! Greatest news.
Excellent stuff as always from Zach Lowe on ESPN+ on Tyrese Maxey, Alperen Sengun and LaMelo Ball (and more).
John Schuhmann has the Sixers and Wolves 1-2 in his weekly Power Rankings.
Michael Malone signs an extension reportedly making him one of the league’s highest paid coaches. Denver is not typically known for spending big beyond the player payroll.
Big, beautiful piece from Rob Mahoney on what Tyrese Haliburton makes possible.
on Maxey and how his explosion factors into Daryl Morey’s trade plans.Dave McMenamin on Anthony Davis’ insistence on more inside help leading to the acquisitions of Christian Wood and Jaxson Hayes.
on the Mavericks’ championship upside.Michael Pina on the new old Ben Simmons.
on a new No. 1 pick candidate: USC guard Isaiah Collier.Jonathan Givony on ESPN+ on this year’s Ignite team being the most talented in the program’s history.
Danny Chau on the culmination of the grand Raptors experiment.
on how the Nuggets scheme around slowing Steph Curry.The great Caitlin Cooper on Bennedict Mathurin stepping into his power.
Logan Murdock with an early review of Point God era in Golden State.
Many good points made by
about Joe Mazzulla’s decision to challenge a call late in a blow-out and other stuff.David Thorpe in
on how Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren feel the music of the game in how they play.J.J. Redick had a really interesting podcast interview with Adam Silver.
had some predictably good thoughts on what Silver meant about what he says he wants from NBA media.Really good thoughts from
on the psychology of sneaker jealously, feeling valid and gatekeeping.Alright, that’s Tuesday. Be excellent to each other.
I’ll go with Jokic for that reason; Curry and Wilson good; absolutely not on any version of Morant from the last couple of years, although a few years ago before the chip on his shoulder got dark he’d have been a lock.
Tatum to me neither seems to exude enough joy nor measurably elevates/affects the overall Vibes emanating from the Celtics. An all-star for sure but not a Vibes All-Star to me
Vibes Matter is a t-shirt or bumper sticker worthy credo for life. I think there should be a Vibes All Star team; I propose Maxey, Haliburton, and GPII as three starters (yes I know they’re all guards, vibes transcend position). Who else we got?