PHILADELPHIA–Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey is one of the young, up-and-coming scorers in the league as he continues to add to his game. He has the speed and the quickness to get to the basket and work his way for easy shots and he can also hit dagger 3s to help the Sixers succeed.
However, if Philadelphia is to do anything in the upcoming playoffs, they will need Maxey to take that next step on the defensive end.
He showed off his defensive work in Friday’s 117-110 win over the Toronto Raptors. Maxey had to chase around Toronto All-Star Fred VanVleet and he helped hold him to just 5-for-17 shooting and 3-for-10 from deep. He and De’Anthony Melton did a really solid job of pressuring Toronto’s ball handlers in the backcourt and the Raptors had a tough time getting into quick offense.
“The last two games, three games,” coach Doc Rivers started after a 117-110 win over the Raptors. “Tyrese’s ball pressure, I thought beginning of the game Tyrese and Melt set the tone for us. They picked the ball up, Toronto was getting into their offense at 14 and 13 on the clock. When you just have to play 13 seconds of defense, it makes you a really good defensive team, and I thought they did that in the second half, I thought we kind of got away from that a little bit.”
In order for Maxey to help the Sixers make a deep playoff run, he has to be better on the defensive end. It’s efforts like Friday’s that will help push him in the right direction with the postseason now just five games away.
“He did a great job from the beginning of the game and that’s what we’re gonna need,” added James Harden. “Obviously, we know how well Tyrese can score a ball, shoot the ball, but I think his defense is underrated.”
Maxey will have his work cut out for him on Sunday when Philadelphia takes on the Milwaukee Bucks and then they host the Boston Celtics on Tuesday.
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