Philadelphia 76ers: 38-23, 3rd Place In Eastern Conference

QUESTION: “Can Tyrese Maxey continue to be the 76ers’ No. 3 option?”

James Harden and Joel Embiid have been terrific through three games thus far since the 76ers’ big trade deadline deal to acquire Harden from the Brooklyn Nets. 

Perhaps the biggest beneficiary from this trade though is second-year guard Tyrese Maxey, who has been on a tear since James Harden entered the 76ers’ lineup. 

In three games with Harden by his side in the backcourt, Maxey has averaged 24.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and has shot 64.3% from both the floor and three-point range. 

Tyrese Maxey has been unstoppable in recent games, just like James Harden and Joel Embiid, but the big question the 76ers face right now is whether or not Maxey can sustain such success heading into the final few weeks of the regular season and eventually into the playoffs. 

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Tobias Harris has regressed since the season started in terms of being a weapon offensively and with him averaging just 10.7 points per game since James Harden joined the lineup, all of the weight of being the third option on this team has fallen on the shoulders of Tyrese Maxey. 

While he certainly looks capable of being the third key aspect of the 76ers’ new “Big 3”, trusting in Maxey is a difficult thing to do right now, especially since he is a young player with virtually no playoff experience, even though he stepped up late for the Sixers last year. 

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Joel Embiid and James Harden can only do so much on the floor, which is why getting production from someone else in the playoffs will be key. In order for the 76ers to make the NBA Finals and possibly win a championship, Tyrese Maxey will have to continue playing at the elite level he is playing at right now.