Three Takeaways From the Sixers First Slate of Games

Tyrese Maxey (left) being guarded by Scottie Barnes (right). Photo: Mark Blinch / Getty Images

The Philadelphia 76ers currently stand at 2-1 in their first 3 games of the regular season. After losing a close game to the Milwaukee Bucks in the team’s season opener, the Sixers have responded nicely by beating the Toronto Raptors and the Portland Trail Blazers in back-to-back contests. After playing 3 games in four nights, the team gets a couple of days off before they take on the Toronto Raptors back at Home. This break is much needed for the team as it was announced earlier this morning that 10x All-Star James Harden, P.J. Tucker, and Filip Petrusev were traded to the Los Angeles Clippers for Robert Covington, Nic Batum, Marcus Morris, KJ Martin, and multiple draft picks. The break will give the newly acquired Sixers players to potentially log a practice before Thursday's game which is much needed for the team's chemistry. With the Sixers first 3 games in books, here are three takeaways so far.

Tyrese Maxey is ready for more responsibility

Yesterday, Tyrese Maxey was named player of the week for the Eastern Conference. In the first week of the season, Maxey’s averages currently stand at 30.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 6.3 APG, and 1 TOV. The 4th year guard is also shooting an impressive 50% from the field, 56% from 3-point range, and 91.3% from the free-throw line. With Harden absent, it is clear that Maxey is ready for the extra workload. With that being said, if there is any silver lining from the Harden trade saga, it is Tyrese Maxey stepping into a star guard role.

Nick Nurse is doing good things

With newly signed coach Nick Nurse in the driver's seat, it was unclear how the team would start the season. While Nurse was making his coaching debut for the Sixers in the season opener, 7x All-Star Damian Lillard was making his debut for the Bucks. It was a difficult first game for Nurse and the Sixers, however, the team did show toughness in the 118-117 loss. After losing a close first game of the season, Nurse faced his former team, the Toronto Raptors and the Portland Trailblazers in a back-to-back. After losing to the Bucks, it was important for the Sixers to respond in a commanding fashion, especially against Nurse’s former team and in the team’s season Home opener against the Trailblazers. The Sixers did just that, responding well as they beat the Raptors 114-107 and dominated the Trailblazers 126-98.

The MVP is back

It was a shaky season opener for Joel Embiid. The reigning MVP logged 24 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block, and 7 turnovers while shooting 9/21 from the field, 3/8 from the free throw line, and 3/7 from the 3-point line. Embiid did some good things but it wasn’t to the MVP standard everyone knows the 6x all-star can play at. However, the big man responded very well in the back-to-back, logging a total of 69 points, 24 rebounds, 15 assists, 3 steals, 6 blocks, and 4 turnovers while shooting 26/43 from the field, 14/18 from the free throw line, and 3/7 from the 3 point line across the two games. We know that Embiid is a dominant force on the defensive end and as a scorer but the stat that jumps out through the first slate of games is his assist numbers. The All-Star center has averaged 7 assists per game across the team's first 3 games. With Harden traded, the team may look to utilize Embiid as a passer as there will be even more attention drawn to him.