Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers praised guard Tyrese Maxine on a recent episode of ESPN’s “The Woj Pod.” The 2008 NBA champion also discussed the James Harden-Joel Embiid partnership.
“He never had a bad day at first,” Rivers said of Max. “And it helps – I think, because he was here, there were a couple of days that I remember him being emotionally drained.” The conversation begins at the 23 minute mark.
Some NBA betting sites are showing high-10 odds for the 76ers to win the championship in 2023. Few sportsbooks are expecting the Sixers to enter the playoffs with Joel Embiid and James Harden.
“That last game when we lost at Miami, he went down,” Rivers continued. “You could feel it in the game. And then he had another day. Those types of guys, as a coach, you don’t want them to screw up.”
In the second round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs, the Heat defeated the 76ers in six games. As the team’s leading scorer, Maxey averaged 20.2 points, 2.3 boards and 3 assists against Miami.
Embiid missed the first two games after suffering a right thumb injury and right orbital fracture.
76ers head coach Doc Rivers thanks guard Tyrese Maxey
Max has a positive mindset, which allowed him to post career-high numbers in the 2021-22 season. In 74 starts, the second-year guard averaged 17.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
He shot 48.5% from the field and 42.7% from downtown. When he is in the game, the 76ers are one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
“You never want them to change,” Rivers said. “You want them to stay in that happy zone. He comes to play every night, he competes, he’s tough but he loves it and he’s having fun doing it.”
“His work ethic is contagious. These are the people who give you energy, make you love coaching.” During the season, Rivers listed Tyrese Maxine as one of the three hardest working players on the team.
Last season, in Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs, Max scored a career-high 38 points in the 76ers’ 131-111 win over the Toronto Raptors.
At 21, Maxey became the youngest Sixer to score at least 30 points in a postseason game. If the guard can play even better in the 2022-23 season, he might just win the NBA’s Most Improved Player.
The 76ers have not advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals since the 2000-01 season. Along with Allen Iverson, Dikembe Mutombo and Aaron McKee, the Sixers lost in five games to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2001 NBA Finals.
