Around the Beat with Ky Carlin: 'This is Tyrese Maxey's team'

On the latest edition of the HoopsHype show "Around The Beat," hosts Cyro Asseo

and Sam Yip bring you the pulse of the Philadelphia 76ers from the perspective of someone who has covered them for a decade. They're joined by Sixers Wire writer Ky Carlin, who gives his first-week impressions of training camp with LeBron James in town. They discuss the media frenzy around the new Big Four, VJ Edgecombe's emergence, Joel Embiid's conditioning, Tyrese Maxey's efficiency, and more.

You can watch the full podcast or check out snippets of the conversation in the transcribed version below the YouTube video.

Covering the LeBron circus

Timestamp: 00:21 – 01:16

Ky Carlin: "It's been interesting, I'm not going to lie. It's been a lot more media than I'm used to, but I understand why.

We're talking about LeBron James, one of the greatest players to ever play the game. He's such a down-to-earth guy. He's got a lot of positive and vocal reviews from his teammates throughout the week at training camp. The first week covering LeBron James has definitely been interesting, to say the least."

VJ Edgecombe sets the tone

Timestamp: 04:19 – 05:12

KC: "We all know he had a heck of a rookie year. He averaged 16 points, five and a half rebounds and four point two assists. What Joel and LeBron have really talked about is that he's been vocal in practice. You don't necessarily see that from a 21-year-old in his second year on a team full of All-Stars, superstars and Hall of Famers. VJ has been standing out in a lot of different ways."

A second unit led by Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe

Timestamp: 05:56 – 07:20

KC: "Nick Nurse talked about Jaylen Brown's shot creation after the preseason win over the Knicks. He talked about VJ making plays for others and running the offense a little bit. With no Tyrese, no Joel and no LeBron against New York, it was a lot of VJ and a lot of Jaylen, and they created shots for their teammates. We're going to see a lot of that this season, where Nick has them run with the second unit as offensive hubs. Unfortunately, it looks like Ariel Hukporty suffered a catastrophic injury. He's had a really good training camp, and I think he would have been a really good backup big for Joel and this whole second team."

Chemistry, ego and the Jaylen Brown "next question" moment

Timestamp: 09:16 – 11:50

KC: "I don't think there's an ego. That's easy to say on October 5th, so talk to me again on Christmas. Right now it feels like these guys aren't worried about who's taking how many shots. They're worried about winning. I've never seen a more connected team, but you can say that in the preseason because you haven't faced many challenges yet. As for the 'next question' moment on Media Day, I thought it was a weird question. Jaylen wasn't disrespectful in any way. I've interacted with him three times now. He's a respectful guy. I don't understand where all those random reports came from all summer."

Whose team is it?

Timestamp: 12:54 – 14:18

KC: "I agree with that take. I think this is Tyrese's team. They're a lot faster and a lot more athletic now, and there are a lot of guys who play at Tyrese's speed. But I think Joel Embiid is still going to play a really big role in this offense. I think Tyrese and Joel will take the most shots, and then you have Jaylen. I don't think LeBron really cares about being the guy anymore. He's going to be 42. At some point he has to slow down."

Joel Embiid's conditioning and defensive ceiling

Timestamp: 14:45 – 15:57, 22:55 – 24:17

KC: "I think Joel could easily play around 50 games. I think he's in the best shape I've ever seen him, and that includes his rookie year and his second year. Having LeBron around will hold him accountable in a way. LeBron is entering his 24th season and he's built like a Greek god. But I'm not sure we'll see dominant defensive Joel again, truly. We'll see a Joel who drops 30 if you allow him to. He'll show flashes, like an incredible block or a couple of steals that get the team out in transition, but I think those days are done."

Championship or bust in Philadelphia

Timestamp: 16:36 – 17:47

KC: "This is a city that has starved for an NBA championship. This team hasn't been past round two since 2001, and it hasn't won a title since 1983. This franchise keeps hitting a wall in round two during the Joel Embiid era. They should have beaten the Celtics in 2023. They had a lead in the fourth quarter of game six at home, and then Jayson Tatum went nuclear. There have been so many missed opportunities. So yes, I think it's championship or bust, this year and next, as long as LeBron James and Jaylen Brown are in Sixers uniforms. The city expects a title."

Nick Nurse's defensive identity

Timestamp: 24:51 – 26:14

KC: "Nick wants his team to be physical and quick and to force turnovers. I think VJ can take a big step forward and be an All-Defensive type of player with his length, quickness, physicality and IQ. I think Jaylen will set a tone, and LeBron will too. He hasn't done it consistently since probably 2020, and I chalk that up to age. But he's been barking out defensive schemes and orders all week at training camp. He's the one vocal guy, which is surprising because he's new and still picking up Nick's schemes."

Tyrese Maxey's path to 50-40-90

Timestamp: 26:53 – 27:53

KC: "I think his production will drop a little bit, and that's natural with all the new guys. But I think he can have the most efficient season of his career. His field goal percentage was great to start last year, then he messed up his pinky again, and his efficiency tanked when he came back. I think Tyrese can have a 50-40-90 season. He has such a smooth shot, he won't have to take as many shots, and there will be a lot less pressure on him. If he averages 24 or 25 points instead of 28.3 while shooting 50, 40, 90, that's another step forward."

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as the X factor

Timestamp: 28:10 – 29:21

KC: "I'm going with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. He hasn't shot the ball well the last two years, in Orlando or in Memphis. If he gets back to close to the 40 percent he shot in his last year with the Nuggets, that gives the Sixers a different weapon off the bench. I saw it against New York. He was all over the place defensively, helpful on the glass, barking out orders on both sides of the floor, and he knocked down a three. He's a glue guy, a connector who keeps guys together."

A bold prediction for VJ Edgecombe

Timestamp: 30:26 – 31:34

KC: "I'll go back to VJ Edgecombe. I think he's going to make an All-Defensive team. He won't have to score as much this year. LeBron said on Media Day that you can average 20 points and be on a losing team. If you score 10, 11 or 12 points but come up with a big steal, a big block and a clutch defensive stop, people will view you as a winner. I think VJ is the perfect guy to take that and run with it."

You can follow Cyro Asseo (@CyroAsseo), Sam Yip (@SamYip__) and Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) on X, and read Kai's daily coverage at Sixers Wire.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Around the Beat with Ky Carlin: 'This is Tyrese Maxey's team'