PHILADELPHIA -- Tyrese Maxey the two-way player? It's certainly beginning to look that way.
The Philadelphia 76ers star has taken his game up to another notch on the defensive end of the floor. Already known for his offensive prowess, Maxey has been phenomenal on the defensive end to begin the season. He has been aggressive, intentional, found ways to slow down some tough opponents, and has risen to the challenge for the Sixers on a nightly basis.
None of this is surprising to Joel Embiid, but when considering the defensive leap as well as his offensive ability, Embiid has high expectations for Maxey as a two-way player.
"That’s just who he is," Embiid explained. "He's done it at least the last two or three years. He's taken a leap every single
year. I told him before the season, I think he should be a 50-40-90 guy. So, I’m not impressed. I see the work that he's put in all these years and I will take the credit and say that I was the first one that saw it in him. So yeah, I'm not impressed. That's just what he does. He puts the work in and he shows up and he does it."
Maxey had three steals and three blocks in the opener against the New York Knicks before then taking on the challenge of defending Cleveland Cavaliers star James Harden full court in Thursday's comeback win. It was a big difference for Philadelphia and when you throw in his offensive work, it takes Maxey's game to another level.
"Oh, it was great," Jaylen Brown added of Maxey's defese. "You know, that's where we’re going to be pushing each other on both ends, on offense and defense. I love to see it, and he's been great for us early."
This Sixers team continues to be led by Maxey and Embiid. The additions of Brown and LeBron James will, obviously, make a huge difference, but Philadelphia will continue to look to Maxey and Embiid in an effort to lead the group and make sure everybody's locked in. The defensive effort by both on Thursday was a huge example of that.
"They just took the challenge and whatever assignment that they needed," James said of Maxey and Embiid. "We switched our defense a little bit, so we had Tyrese on the ball a little bit more, they put Jo a little on the perimeter, we were trying some things and they both answered the call."
As mentioned, Maxey made a big push against Harden and Embiid's activity defensively was great. James certainly took notice.
"Picking James up full court, trying to make him turn, trying to make him extend their offense, and Jo was put in positions that he probably hasn’t been in in a lot, where he’s closing out to perimeter guys, keeping them in front of him, making them take tough shots, making them take contested shots at the rim," James finished. "And then it’s up to myself, JB and the rest of the guys and VJ (Edgecombe) to clean glass because big fella was on the perimeter a lot."
The Sixers will continue to try and grow the defensive work by Maxey and take another step forward as a team.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Trio of Sixers stars praise Tyrese Maxey for his two-way ability
