Tyrese

Maxey

While Maxey shot the ball well on Friday, he was far too deferential on offense in a game the 76ers needed to win. There were too many moments in which the point guard continued to swing the ball instead of attacking the closeout and getting downhill. While that may have been the “right play,” the 76ers need a more aggressive Maxey on offense to have any chance, especially when considering the team’s lack of depth. To force a Game 5, Philadelphia needs Maxey to be in “takeover mode” from the start of Sunday’s Game 4.

Maxey bounced back after a difficult Game 1 that saw him score just 13 points in a blowout loss. The 25-year-old point guard had 26 points in Game 2, but wasn’t particularly efficient with 23 attempts from the field. It was enough to keep the 76ers in the game, but the Philadelphia offense couldn’t score down the stretch. The 76ers will have to win Game 3 on Friday to avoid falling behind 3-0 in the series.

The Knicks were able to keep Maxey in check on Monday, but the quick turnaround from Philadelphia’s Game 7 win over the Celtics was also a factor. The 76ers point guard missed all three of his three-point attempts and recorded twice as many turnovers (four) as assists (two). One can safely assume that Maxey will put forth a better performance in Game 2 on Wednesday night.

Maxey’s third 30-point game of the series helped the 76ers become the most recent team to erase a 3-1 deficit. The 76ers’ guard had a big night offensively, shooting over 50 percent from the field and dishing out seven assists. And with Joel Embiid hobbled late, Maxey scored eight of his 30 points in the final two minutes to help get Philadelphia over the finish line. Next up for the 76ers are the Knicks, with Game 1 scheduled for Monday night in New York.

Maxey’s scoring was a significant factor in the 76ers’ Game 6 win. He shot well overall, especially outside the arc, and also finished as one of Philadelphia’s leaders in assists on the evening. He had offensive help from several of his teammates, as well, which could be a key for the 76ers in a win-or-go-home situation on Saturday. They’ll likely rely heavily on Maxey, once again.

Maxey took a backseat to Joel Embiid once again, but he still got enough touches and shots to stuff the stat sheet in the Game 5 win. He has scored at least 20 points in every game this series, which is a trend that will need to continue for the 76eres to have a chance to win. Game 6 will be in Philadelphia on Thursday, where Maxey will look to keep up the scoring. This was also his best rebounding performance of the season, which is a trend that will hopefully continue.

Maxey shot the ball well in Game 4 and committed just one turnover, but the 76ers did not have enough firepower to run with the Celtics. Backcourt sidekick VJ Edgecombe (6/4/1/1) and wing Kelly Oubre Jr. (two points, four rebounds, one assist and one block) shot a combined 2-of-15 from the field, and the 76ers could not overcome those struggles, even with Joel Embiid back in the lineup. Maxey and the 76ers now head to Boston for Game 5 on Tuesday, needing a win to stave off elimination.

Maxey had 31 points, but he wasn’t efficient with 31 attempts from the field. The 25-year-old point guard only took two free throws all game. He made a three-pointer with less than nine minutes left in regulation to give the 76ers the lead, but only scored two points for the rest of the game. The 76ers will have to win Game 4 on Sunday to even the series after falling behind 2-1.

Halfway through the fourth quarter, the Celtics cut the 76ers’ lead to two points. The 25-year-old point guard proceeded to hit back-to-back three-pointers to essentially put the game on ice for Philadelphia. After taking just four three-pointers in the Game 1 loss, Maxey was 5-of-12 from behind the arc in Game 2. His scoring remains critical if Philadelphia is going to pull the upset in this series.

Maxey led the way offensively for the 76ers in Sunday’s series opener, but the Celtics made him work for everything. The 76ers’ point guard shot 40 percent from the field, including a 1-of-4 day from beyond the arc. During the regular season, Maxey averaged 8.6 three-point attempts per game. If Boston can successfully run Maxey off the line as they did in Game 1, this series may not last very long. Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday night.