There’s no drama this time around, at least when it comes to the Sixers’ starting lineup.
Back in late September, Sixers head coach Doc Rivers chose Tyrese Maxey to plug an All-Star hole on his first unit. He was initially careful, however, to frame the starters as subject to change without training camp holdout Ben Simmons.
With Simmons now a Brooklyn Net and James Harden set to be the Sixers’ lead ball handler, will Maxey still start? And how will Harden’s presence impact his role?
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“It is safe to assume that (Maxey will start) for sure,” Rivers said Friday night. “And we’ll see once we get on the floor. I think, if you watch us, Joel (Embiid) brings the ball up now, Tobias (Harris) brings the ball up, Tyrese brings the ball up — and James will, too. There’s a lot of visions we have as a staff, but you’ve got to get on the floor. There’s no reason for me to sit here and guess how we’re going to play.”
Maxey was the first Sixer to address reporters following the Sixers’ trade for Harden, who he called “one of the guys that you play with on (NBA) 2K when you’re a younger kid.”
“He’s a great scorer, great passer,” Maxey said after the Sixers’ Friday shootaround. “The way he reads the defense is incredible. I can’t wait to learn as much as I can. Watch a little film and just (talk) and try to see who he is as a person. That’ll be great.”
One of the major stories for the Sixers through 54 games was Maxey’s progress balancing a traditional, ball-spreading point guard’s mindset with an aggressive, rim-attacking approach.
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Rivers, assistant coach Sam Cassell and Embiid were in his ear often, sometimes with rather pointed criticism. They’ll still likely demand Maxey shoot when open, but other details — how Rivers will rotate, what Harden-specific elements he might add to the offense — are to be determined.
“I’ve always said I’m adjustable," Maxey said. “And at the end of the day, I have one goal and that’s to win. So whatever coach asks me to do — stay on the ball, play off the ball. If he asks me to play center for Joel, just to sit Joel for a little bit, then that’s what I’m going to go out there and do.”
The 6-foot-2 Maxey certainly does not need to worry about backing up Embiid.
But, with Andre Drummond gone, the Sixers are a smaller, less deep team at center. Paul Reed capitalized on the situation during the Sixers’ 2-0 weekend, totaling 12 points, 14 rebounds, five steals and two blocks in wins over the Thunder and Cavs.
As the G League MVP his rookie season, Reed shined by constantly creating action, most of it positive. Few players do everything well in the NBA, though. It made sense for Reed to narrow his focus.
“I’ve been learning a lot,” Reed said during training camp. “Georges (Niang) just pointed out something great to me recently. He was saying, ‘Just focus on what you’re elite at.’ And for me, that’s offensive rebounding. He kind of opened my eyes to what I need to focus on more.”
Veteran Paul Millsap, rookie Charles Bassey and a post-deadline addition (the Sixers have one open roster spot) are other potential factors at backup center.
But, other than a botched attempt at a stylish reverse dunk against Oklahoma City, Reed has made a strong first impression after the deadline.
“He’s had two games in a row where he’s just doing his job,” Rivers said Saturday. “He runs the floor, he rebounds. He’s a bit of an instigator, unintentionally. He just becomes an instigator with the way he plays. And I love that he’s fearless. He’s not going to back down from anybody. Obviously they start posting him up and he doesn’t have the size to guard some of those guys, so that’s why we’re out on the market trying to find one more big, for nights like that.”