In the 2021 off-season, when basketball fans all over the world are focusing on the Sixers and theBen SimmonsWhen it comes to how the love-hate relationship will end, head coach Doc Rivers has set his sights on the possible future candidate for point guard: Tyrese Maxey.
When Rivers and his coaching staff discussed the lineup configuration before the start of the 2021-22 season, he made a bold decision: Whether Simmons plays or not, Tyrese Maxey will be the starting guard in the new season. "Someone asked, but, he How do you and Ben start together?" Rivers said, "I answered, I'm not sure, but Tyrese is starting."
Maxey averaged 15.3 minutes per game in his rookie season (2020-21). When no one was available in the team due to the epidemic in January last year, he scored 39 points in 44 minutes. This was the last game of his rookie year. There is also a score of 30 points in a single game.
For Maxey, being promoted as the starting point guard in this championship-level team with star players and top green leaves is already a great certification and improvement.
However, it is not easy to be a starter in the NBA, and you are bound to encounter many growing pains.
"Are you deaf? Can't hear anything? Tyrese! Damn it, Tyrese!" Georges Niang imitated the way he usually scolded Maxey in Rivers' voice, "I'm afraid this kid will collapse because of this."
But Maxey shouldered the pressure and survived Rivers' harsh early season. This season, he averaged 17.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. His shooting measurements were top-level 48.5%/42.7%/86.6%. He not only became a popular favorite among Philadelphia fans. Ziji has also become the second most important person in the formation.Joel EmbiidandJames HardenCore.
The Sixers defeated the Raptors in the first round of the 2022 playoffs and advanced to the second round. Maxey started every game, averaging 21.3 points, 4.8 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and had a 51.1% field goal percentage and 40.5% three-pointers. The shooting percentage, except for the three-point shooting percentage, all data exceed the performance of the regular season. Maxey's explosiveness and hard work continue to spread to the team. Coupled with the historical level of jump shooting, it can basically be said that his performance can determine the team's upper limit to a certain extent.
"I said at the end of the season press conference last season that my goal is to try to improve 1% every day." Maxey said, "I have been working hard with this goal throughout the summer."
The result of focusing on training instead of internal fighting is that he has grown from a potential rookie to an offensive threat that cannot be ignored. Looking at NBA guards, few can compare with the lightning-fast Maxey, and what exactly is he? How is the transformation accomplished?
Maxey made some unexpected floaters when he got to the free throw line as a rookie, and he and Rivers agree that this weapon is extremely important for the 6-foot-2 guard.
"I kept thinking that when I came around the paint, my shot was probably going to be blocked," Maxey said. "But once I adjusted it, I realized if I could get closer to the basket when I took the shot, or if I was quick enough, Or if you dribble the ball steadily enough, your chances of scoring a goal will be greatly increased.”
In order to improve the shooting power of small guards, Maxey spent the summer studying the game films of Dwyane Wade and Tony Parker, the two most famous guards in the modern NBA, and learned their shooting patterns and movements.
"Tony Parker's shooting is really an art. He often cuts into the attack and can always score the ball from different angles. Those big men can't block it at all." Maxey said, "I will also watch Kyrie. , study where they wipe the board, what angles they turn, how the ball goes in."
According to ESPN Stats & Information, Maxey has developed the ability to attack the basket from any angle. Although the throw ratio is 4% less than last season, the number of throws in the regular season is still among the top 10 in the league.
Maxey's layup percentage in the regular season was 60.5%, which was higher than last season's 54.7%. "He is very fast, can come and go freely in the penalty area, and can cut in front of the basket without much need for screens." Raptors head coach Nick Nurse said, "His offensive methods are becoming more and more abundant, and it is really difficult to defend against him."
The richness of the offensive package is based on the dramatic growth of Maxey's jump shot, which comes from a summer in which he arced thousands of arcs into the air in the gym.
"I get up and go straight to the gym," Maxey said. "I start shooting 700-800 balls at 6 o'clock in the morning, then retrain until 10 o'clock, and then go back to shoot."
Hard training will definitely become a memory of the body and be reflected on the court.
Last season, Maxey averaged 1.7 three-pointers per game and only had a 30% shooting percentage. This season, Maxey took 4.1 three-pointers and his shooting percentage increased significantly to 42.7%.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, since the three-point line was introduced in the 1979-80 season, only Allan Houston and Todd Day can increase their three-point shooting percentage by more than 12%.
Houston and Day both occurred in the 1994-95 season, when the NBA moved the three-pointer back 22 inches. In other words, Maxey is the only player in NBA history who has improved his shooting percentage by more than 12% under the standard three-point line. player of.
Maxey's catch-and-shoot percentage in 3 seconds is 44.9%, ranking sixth among 175 players who have attempted more than 150 catch-and-shoot attempts this season.
"His shooting improvement has really changed the team's chemistry." Raptors star guard Fred VanVleet gave a lot of praise when talking about Maxey. "When you have players with both speed and athleticism who can shoot to the level of a shooter, it will change the original operation and balance of the team and free up Joel and James."
At the end of the third quarter of the first game against the Raptors in the playoffs, Harden was dribbling away from the left side of the court when he saw a vague blue-striped figure behind the retreating Raptors player.
Harden passed a floor pass directly across the court to Maxey. He started to bounce directly, dodged Pascal Siakam's block, and twisted his backhand to the other side of the basket to put the ball in.
This typical sports battle is the epitome of Maxey's entire season.
"His progress is visible to the naked eye." Harden praised his younger brother without reservation. "I have watched his state rise and fall. From being very unstable in the playoffs last season to now playing in this championship-level team, The team plays an important role.”
Maxey is only 21 years old. He has gone from being the team's future blueprint in the first season and a newcomer who has been caught in trade rumors from time to time, to becoming an unmentionable core player in the Harden and Simmons trades.
Of course, in addition to Maxey's own growth, Harden's passing and Embiid's dominance in the penalty area also gave Maxey a lot of room to display.
No matter how far the Sixers go in the playoffs this season, Harden is expected to receive an offer of approximately the maximum salary. Coupled with Maxey's growth, the Sixers can ensure that they will maintain a competitive Big Three within three years.
But both Maxey and Rivers know that he still has a lot of room for improvement. In addition to continuing to maintain stable output, defense will be his primary improvement issue. But no matter what, Maxey has won the respect of teammates and opponents at this stage.
"If I were to choose, he is the unquestionable winner of the Most Improved Award." Embiid said, "His influence on the team also ensures the team's competitiveness throughout the season."
"I deeply believe that hard work will definitely pay off." Maxey said.
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