“He’s definitely the fastest guy I’ve ever seen in my life,” P.J. Tucker said on Oct. 7. “Tyrese is insanely fast. It’s scary.”
Maxey harnessing his tools
While he’s not reliant on pace, it’s clear Maxey loves attacking when the defense isn’t fully back. And when foot speed is a factor, you’ll generally want to bet on Maxey. Maxey drove to the middle, collapsed the Raptors’ defense, and kicked the ball out to a wide-open Tucker for a three that gave the Sixers a 51-38 advantage. He's not shy about shooting when he’s on fire, but it’s admirable that he keeps seeking out the best play for his team.
While Maxey shined right away, everyone chipped in as the Sixers grabbed a 20-12 edge. Harris was persistent on an early possession against the scrappy Fred VanVleet, eventually hitting an and-one jumper over the Raptors guard to put the Sixers up 9-4. VanVleet had a nightmarish outing, shooting 0 for 11 from the floor.
Still, small-ball, three-guard lineups have promise for the Sixers and appear worth using at times even when Embiid is active.Thybulle was the Sixers' first substitute. He hadn't played in the mini-series opener and entered the evening with just six total minutes of playing time this season.