Beware, Tyrese Maxey can always beat you
After an intense, high-scoring win against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night in Emirates NBA Cup action, the Pistons turn around and face the Philadelphia 76ers at Little Caesars Arena on the second end of a back-to-back. The Sixers have been off since a Nov. 27 overtime loss to the Houston Rockets . The loss was Philly’s seventh in eight games.
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Analysis
Once thought of as an Eastern Conference Finals contender, the Sixers have won just three games this season, with two of them in overtime. A look deeper into the numbers, and there doesn’t seem to be much of a silver lining for the Sixers anywhere to be found. They are an inefficient, plodding team that struggles to create space and flow on offense while also being unable to rebound the ball and is one of the league’s worst defensive units. The team invested heavily in a pairing of Joel Embiid and Paul George, and the two have been limited to just 12 combined games. Embiid is out for today’s matchup and George is questionable.
The team lives and dies by the performance of dynamic young guard Tyrese Maxey, and Maxey is giving his team everything he can. He is averaging 25.7 points, 4.4 assists, and two steals per game. He’s dangerous, and if the Detroit Pistons starting pair of Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey don’t lock in on defense, Maxey could have a field day.
Other than Maxey, the pickings have been slim for Philly. There is genuine excitement for rookie Jared McCain from Duke. The diminutive guard has shown some real skill, but it’s also the sort of excitement that might be the canary in the coal mine of a truly disastrous season. A frustrated fan base so fed up with poor-performing veterans that they adopt a young player who always brings energy as their new favorite.
Against the Pacers, the Pistons were able to dominate the paint, the boards, share the ball, and hit their threes. That’s a pretty basic recipe for success, but the Sixers present an opponent where all those things could be possible again. Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart should be able to use their springy athleticism to overpower Andre Drummond, and if Detroit protects the ball just enough, they should be able to get Philly’s lax defense moving out of position and find open looks for plenty of shooters.
Or they could just lose because they surrender a 50-spot to Maxey.
Projected Lineup
Detroit Pistons (9-12)
Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Tim Hardaway, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
Philadelphia 76ers (3-14)
Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, Paul George, Caleb Martin, Guerschon Yabusele
Question of the Game
What is your go-to meal with your Thanskgiving Day leftovers?