Mired in a difficult start to the season, Philadelphia had the misfortune to lose James Harden as a bonus, the back having injured his foot ten days ago.
Deprived of its main creator, the formation of Doc Rivers is struggling to find alternatives on the outside positions, a problem which arose again in the defeat of this night in Atlanta, when the Sixers conceded two 12-0 between the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth, without finding solutions.
“The lack in position 1 was quite clear tonight I think. We’re going to have to make an adjustment at that level.”recognized Doc Rivers after the meeting. “With each missed basket, you could clearly see the frustration. It led us not to pass and it really rubbed off on the defense.
A delicate balance
Main concerned, Tyrese Maxey has actually been struggling for three games. If he went between the drops with a 10/29 in the key shot against the Knicks, the two outings that followed were very complicated, at 4/18 against Phoenix then 5/17 last night in Atlanta.
Accustomed to playing firefighters on duty, the leader / rear no longer responds when Philly needs him most, in scoring but also a little in creation.
“I have to go back to my way of attacking to score and not attacking to try to get to the free throw line. It will come, it will come back to me”, did he concede. “As Joel Embiid said, I’ve been overthinking for a few games, letting go of shooting positions that I usually take, and also in my decisions, between when to pass and when to shoot. We are still looking for solutions to help us win.
Tyrese Maxey’s penetrations are intended in particular to free up spaces behind the 3-point line for his teammates, who also shone with their clumsiness from afar last night (6/30). Casually, it’s a whole collective balance, already fragile, which finds itself abused.
The return from -20 to -6 late in the game still leaves some hope to the Sixers for the second confrontation against Philadelphia, tomorrow, in Pennsylvania this time.
“We were in a lot of close matches that we should have won. We have to turn the tide and win these games.”added Tyrese Maxey, who will also be expected in his new duel against Trae Young.
| Tyrese Maxey | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2020-21 | PHL | 61 | 15 | 46.2 | 30.1 | 87.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 8.0 |
| 2021-22 | PHL | 75 | 35 | 48.5 | 42.7 | 86.6 | 0.4 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 17.5 |
| 2022-23 | PHL | 11 | 38 | 46.5 | 41.8 | 75.0 | 0.5 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 23.6 |
| Total | 147 | 27 | 47.7 | 39.9 | 85.1 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 14.0 | |
