CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers continue preparing for the 2023-24 season with or without James Harden. That means Tyrese Maxey will have to take steps forward in his playmaking, which he has shown in the preseason.
Maxey has done a terrific job of making pocket passes to rollers, making passes on time to shooters coming off the screen and kicking out to shooters when defenses collapse on him. These are big improvements for him in the playmaking department.
“Just watching the games, he’s been great,” Joel Embiid said. “Whether it’s the pocket passes or finding guys coming off the screen on the other side and those key passes, he’s been great. I still believe there’s another level that he can get to, and I’m sure he wants to get to because he’s eager to learn.”
Maxey is going to be key to whatever the Sixers do. Even if Harden were to have a change of heart and want to play in games, Philadelphia will need Maxey to do more on the offensive end as a playmaker and a scorer next to Embiid.
“I’m just happy to be playing with such an amazing human being that just wants to play and who’s always having fun,” Embiid added.
At this stage, Embiid wants to help his teammates get better. He is not looking to try and score 30-plus points per game or anything like that. He wants to make plays for others with his passing. That can take some of the pressure off Maxey on the offensive end as well.
“This whole year, that’s gonna be my big focus to try and get as many assists and try to get my teammates involved as much as possible so for me, that’s what it’s been about,” Embiid added. “Just learning and trying to get these going and get them open.”
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