The Sixers season is virtually upon us, and we’re attempting and failing not to get over excited with simply how superior Tyrese Maxey can also be. He was once a revelation in 2022, and expectancies are even upper for his 1/3 12 months, the place he could also be careening for the max extension that refrained from each New York’s R.J. Barrett and Miami’s Tyler Herro.
So we’re questioning, is there any likelihood that the Kentucky product, who someway slipped to Philly all through the 2020 NBA Draft, would possibly blossom into the Sixers’ No. 2 weapon this 12 months, assuming Joel Embiid continues his MVP-caliber dominance?
In an it sounds as if candid second, head trainer Doc Rivers was once picked up announcing the pecking order can be Joel Embiid, then James Harden.
And that more than likely turns out like the most secure wager, proper? That Harden turns into the two-punch in the Sixers one-two punch combo, the Beard being considered one of the largest offensive gamers in NBA historical past and all.
Will Harden get well from the hamstring problems that plagued him over the ultimate two years and go back to shape? Or will he proceed to handle comfortable tissue accidents? And despite the fact that he has, would possibly Father Time have leveled the enjoying box for the 33-year-old?
A tweet from friend-of-LB TrillBroDude all through Wednesday’s sport had us questioning…. who is the ideal No. 2 for Philly this season in a ceiling consequence?
I’ll come with you guys in on a textual content chain I used to be a part of ultimate night time round halftime of the Sixers preseason mystery over the Cavs.
Sixers fan good friend: “Had to be said:”
*HARDEN STANS DO NOT READ THIS!!!*
Maxey is the 2d ideal participant on the Sixers
— Subscribe to the You Know Ball Patreon (@TrillBroDude) October 5, 2022
Knicks fan good friend: “Wow, you’re co-signing this??”
SFB: “I’m not there yet but I’m warming up to it.”
KFB: “Does that mean you’re cooling on [Sixers’ title] odds?”
SFB: “Oh I think it’s a pro Maxey take, he’s scored over 20 in the first half of both preseason games, 8-for-10 tonight.”
Me: “Yeah, unless Maxey surprises with even more leapings which I think is the point Trill making.”
KFB: “No I know- it’s pro Maxey- but for [Sixers] best chip odds, don’t you need Harden to be Harden, in which case he’s the 2nd best player on the team?”
SFB: “Good points.”
KFB: “[really happy smiley face emoji]”
Me: “true or false, the Sixers have a better chance to win a chip if Maxey is their no. 2?”
SFB: “Trick question, best chance is if Maxey is their number 1 (most don’t get that).”
Me: “lol, let’s say Joel is no. 1, higher shot to win chip if Maxey or Harden is their no. 2?
SFB: “I mean, if Harden is the same guy as last year then yeah, Harden’s ideally a number 3 then, can just see the floor and be helpful player, occasionally when he’s feeling good have a big night.”
KFB: “How’d Harden look last night?”
SFB: “Looked exactly the same as last year, could be that he’s slowly ramping up, was in 4th gear, but I didn’t notice anything different. Maxey on the other hand, put on 15 LBS muscle, added a mid range game, quick threes, best player on the court both nights.”
So there you’ve gotten it. That was once our chat ahead of we delved into how Donovan Mitchell seemed just right and the way the Knicks dropped the ball no longer buying and selling for him.
Now we’ll flip to a ballot. This isn’t a query of probabilistic results. We’re much less interested by the likeliest situation. For instance, in the event you assume the in all probability situation is that Harden returns to shape and is the group’s transparent No. 2, and Maxey is the third-best participant that’s high quality. If you assume Harden is some aggregate of banged up or declined so Maxey is a more secure wager, that’s high quality additionally. Hold the ones ideas….
But what we wish to measure right here, is which of the two is the ideal 2d gun in a Sixers best-case situation Finals run?
For instance, if I advised you the Sixers received the championship, and requested you to fill in the blanks round the way it all went down, was once it as a result of Harden returned to shape, and carried the offensive burden, permitting Embiid to center of attention extra on protection? Was it as a result of Maxey principally developed right into a respectable famous person?
You get it.