It feels like Tyrese hasn’t been able to hit the broad side of a barn the last few weeks, and unfortunately, the stats bear that out. Since 11/21, Maxey has put up 26/6/3 but on a below-league average 57 TS%. He is averaging 53% from two and 6.3 FTA during that time, which are both above any of his prior season averages (including this one), meaning that his three-point shooting is what is hurting his overall efficiency.
From the eye test, Maxey is taking a much more difficult 3-point shot profile than the last two years. Looking at the numbers, this seems to be a major contributing factor to his shooting slump. Maxey is shooting a career-high 51% on a career-low 3.1 catch-and-shoot threes per game this year (not including his rookie year). This is one of the best marks in the entire league. Meanwhile, he is shooting a career-low 30.1% on a career-high 4.9 pull-up threes per game, and neither of these numbers is even close to his previous seasons. The Sixers are putting Maxey in an extremely difficult position as the only ball-handler and shot-creator on this team, and it is hurting his overall effectiveness, even if he looks like he has all-NBA numbers.
Now this might be an unpopular take, but I don’t think he is a great passer. In games both are active, Maxey is only averaging 2.5 assists to players not named Joel Embiid per game. Considering that Maxey spends about 12 minutes per game without Joel Embiid, that number is really bad for a lead PG. For reference, James Harden averaged closer to 7 assists to non-Joel Embiid players with less overall usage than Maxey this season. With Maxey as their point guard, the Sixers are struggling to get everyone else involved.
The Sixers are getting by, but Maxey is currently playing out of position. He is at his best taking advantage of off-balance defenses, whether in transition, attacking close-outs, or converting catch-and-shoot threes. He should be having shots made for him, not creating shots for everyone else. If we are going to make a move at the deadline, it should be for a starting point guard.
Sources
[https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/tyrese-maxey-stats-last-20-games](https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/tyrese-maxey-stats-last-20-games)
[https://www.nba.com/stats/player/1630178/shots-dash](https://www.nba.com/stats/player/1630178/shots-dash)
[https://www.nba.com/news/nba-storylines-most-assists-to-single-teammate-december-2023](https://www.nba.com/news/nba-storylines-most-assists-to-single-teammate-december-2023)
by ktm5141
9 Comments
Yup I’d agree. Love what Maxey brings to the team but at least for the near future I’d like someone else to be floor general. He may learn to be a great floor general, but he’s not there yet.
I think what’s killing him is the lack of corner 3s. I have no way of confirming this but I would have to guess he’s one of the greatest corner shooters of all time & it seems like those opportunities are almost completely gone this season
An assist is only generated if someone makes a shot. It’s not fair to compare Maxey and Harden passing to “non-Embiid teammates” because, well to state the obvious Maxey can’t pass to himself.
None of these guys are consistent shotmakers and it has NOTHING to do with the quality of the pass. Here’s just one of many examples: Tyrese drew two to him, threw a behind the back to Mo Bamba.
Guess what happened? A brick. Tyrese drew two again, passed it to Oubre in the paint, couldn’t convert.
Maybe, just maybe these other guys aren’t that good at basketball? Rather than Maxey being a bad point guard?
This does not mean we need a different starting fucking point guard. This team better not be this fucking dumb.
Your goal needs to be low usage shooters. Especially with how much Embiid uses the ball and how much better we look with him using the ball and passing more
I agree with your analysis in needing to provide Maxey with more off-ball opportunities and I agree that he’s not the best passer
I don’t think it has to be a point guard specifically and especially if they’re a smaller guy cause we can’t pair Maxey with another defensive liability in the backcourt. His passing has room to improve and he’ll never be elite at it but it can be good enough to properly contend.
The number one prioirity is another shot creator that can handle the ball in whatever position (except center of course) and that’ll make everyone’s job easier with a flow down effect. We don’t get enough open 3 pointers up and that largely comes from not having another shot creator that can collapse the defense.
OP you got your numbers wrong. 3.8 is per 36 which means if Embiid and Maxey played 36 minutes per game together which is not the case. Maxey averaged 2.45 assists per game to Embiid and 4.06 assists to other teammates. For comparison Harden as an elite passer had 6.45 assists to teammates other than Embiid last year, and 1.33 of them were to Maxey. If Maxey had a Maxey to pass to I think he would have a bit more assists. We need a secondary ball handler, not a starting PG.
​
You can see the numbers here:
[https://www.pbpstats.com/assist-combo-summary/nba?Season=2023-24&SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason](https://www.pbpstats.com/assist-combo-summary/nba?Season=2023-24&SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason)
No longer has Harden creating and passing to him.
From what I’ve been seeing he creates separation well. Most of his 3’s are good looks and he’s just missing.
Honestly it’s pretty pathetic seeing posts like this. Maxey is learning a new role and the minute he underperforms you see stupid posts like this that want to move him to a different again already. ITS CALLED LEARNING.
He’ll never be a good point guard because this sub doesn’t seem to allow him to fail lmao.