Despite some disappointing results as of late, the Philadelphia 76ers are pretty much in the running to secure a top-four finish in the Eastern Conference this season. At this juncture, they are a shoo-in for the playoffs, and a huge chunk of the credit belongs to Tyrese Maxey, who has been an absolute stud this season with career-highs across the board.
Having said that, the 25-year-old still has a ways to go before he can be tabbed as a force in high-stakes settings. A huge reason why is because he has continuously been a mixed bag in crunch time. While he ranks sixth in the NBA in clutch points per outing, he is still prone to making those baffling decisions when possessions matter the most.
This has been one of the biggest gripes about Maxey. Last season, he repeatedly cost the 76ers a lot of wins, and fans definitely took notice. This time around, that asterisk in this game remains intact, and the fact that they have more significant chances this season only makes it all the more crippling for the squad.
Tyrese Maxey has been a mixed bag in the clutch for the 76ers
In fact, Maxey’s puzzling decision-making in crunch time was on full display when the 76ers fell short in their comeback trail against the Knicks on Saturday. Down by just three with about 10 minutes to tie the game up, he hoisted up a three-pointer from the logo off a Joel Embiid screen. The shot was never even close to a conversion, and that sequence basically cost them the game.
When asked about the sequence, Maxey admitted that he did not even anticipate getting fouled by his defender when he fired that shot off, meaning that it was a deliberate move on his part. He said he could have taken a dribble or two for an easier attempt, which makes his decision all the more brow-raising.
Instances like that one have become rather frequent sightings this season. Too often does Maxey revert to playing hero ball in the closing minutes, and while he has his fair share of heroics, his propensity to play as if he is on an island in crunch time has done more harm than good for the most part.
Unless Tyrese Maxey can find a way to become a more cerebral player when games become tighter, the Philadelphia 76ers will continue to be hit-or-miss in clutch situations. There is no fixing that issue except him acknowledging his faults and making a deliberate effort to redefine his approach in crunch time, less this team will crumble in high-stakes outings.