Rookie Tyrese Maxey was one of many bright spots for the Sixers in their first preseason game, a win over the Celtics.
“This kid knows how to defend. He’s been coached for sure,” new Sixers head coach Doc Rivers said in reference to Maxey and John Calipari, who coached the point guard during his lone season at Kentucky (via a zoom post-game conference call with FortyEightMinutes and other media in attendance).
Maxey went 4-for-6 from the field, scoring eight points, though it was really his feel for the game that was ultra-impressive. He sported a 3-to-1 assist to turnover ratio during his 12 minutes on the floor and he may be able to contribute sooner than later for Philadelphia.
Rivers added that the rotation wasn’t set and one game wasn’t enough to make any final determinations. The Sixers have one more preseason game before their home opener on Dec. 23 against the Wizards.
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- If Maxey doesn’t get much run early, it’ll likely be because Shake Milton continues his strong play. Rivers has talked up Milton since coming to Philadelphia and the combo guard’s strong training camp carried over into the preseason. Milton had 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting during the contest.
- Ben Simmons has been impressed with his new coach. “Doc so far has been a great coach in terms of letting us play, giving us instructions on how he wants us to play. Moving the ball and finding the open man,” Simmons said after the team’s first preseason game.
- The word Rivers used to describe Dwight Howard‘s Sixers debut was “phenomenal,” adding that Howard needs to earn his minutes and he expects the vet to do just that.
- Earlier in the week, the Sixers cut their roster down to 18 players and the team will need to cut one more prior to the start of the season. The battle for the final roster spot seems to be between Justin Anderson (1-for-4 in eight minutes tonight) and Vincent Poirier (made both of his free throws for his only points in five minutes of playing time).
