MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Tyrese Maxey, the talented point guard of the Philadelphia 76ers, is known for his infectious smile and warm greetings. He often takes the initiative to connect with his teammates, but on Tuesday, after an intense practice session, he wore a serious expression that spoke volumes.
Following a disappointing team meeting on Monday evening, details of which were confirmed by The AthleticMaxey took the opportunity to assert his leadership. Looking directly at his close friend and teammate Joel Embiid, he expressed the impact individual performances have on team dynamics. This candid exchange sparked a crucial discussion where players and coaches reflected on the sad reality of starting the season with the worst record in the NBA, at 2-11.
Despite the injuries affecting the squad and a lack of complete components, the general feeling is that there is far too much talent on this team to justify such disappointing results. Everyone—coaching staff and players—recognizes the potential they possess.
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“I wanted to express myself,” Maxey said. “It is essential to communicate that we are much better than what we have shown on the pitch. Although many things have been discussed, it is time to find a path forward for the rest of the season. Everyone recognizes the issues. The pain is real for all of us.”
Team meetings often serve as a catalyst for regeneration, and if the Sixers put together a strong performance Wednesday night, it wouldn’t be a surprise. However, the issues plaguing this Philadelphia team are starting to look less like childhood issues and more like fundamental flaws. They commit an alarming number of turnovers, struggle to score effectively and fail to contain their opponents defensively.
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The lack of defensive intensity is unusual for a team under coach Nick Nurse, while their offensive struggles are puzzling given the scoring abilities of Maxey, Embiid and wing Paul George. Added to that is a series of injuries, leading to disrupted rotations and lineup changes characteristic of a team trying to find its rhythm just 13 games into the season.
Despite these challenges, this roster was projected to be a title contender, even before the emergence of rookie sensation Jared McCain, who is already in the running for NBA Rookie of the Year. The reality is that this team should perform at a higher level.
“We have to start winning, and there’s no doubt about it,” Nurse admitted. “Last night’s meeting was painfully frank. Everyone wants this team to succeed, yet we find ourselves losing amid many issues we need to resolve. We were aware from the start of this season that maintaining health and quickly finding our rhythm were crucial, but so far, none of these goals have been achieved. Ultimately, we had to put everything on the table, and in that sense, Monday’s meeting was a step forward. the right direction.”
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Maxey, who has been nursing a hamstring injury, participated fully in Tuesday’s practice. He is listed as doubtful for Wednesday’s game, and a return would mark the first time this season that Maxey, Embiid and George have played on the court together. However, with veteran Kyle Lowry sidelined for the next three games due to a hip sprain, the Sixers may not have their full arsenal at their disposal, even with Maxey’s potential return.
What frustrated Maxey the most during Monday night’s loss to the Miami Heat was his team’s perceived lack of commitment. Despite leading by as many as 19 points in the first half, the Sixers succumbed to a 106-89 loss—a monstrous 36-point turnaround. Analyzing the game further, the Sixers came in with a rest advantage, while Miami was on the tail end of a back-to-back, yet it was the Heat who displayed superior energy in the second half.
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“When they hit us, we had to respond,” Maxey reflected. “We had to respond with intensity, but we failed in Miami, and that’s something we need to change right away.”
Philadelphia managed to score just 33 points in the second half against the Heat. Once Miami took control, as Maxey noted, the Sixers failed to find the energy to regain momentum—a strong start turned into a crushing defeat.
Tuesday’s practice was spiritual and productive, but Nurse is looking for tangible results. “Will we rise to the occasion in the spotlight tomorrow? That’s the key question,” he said. “We need to analyze why wins are slipping away from us. Why aren’t we converting open shots? We are generating good chances, and if we can capitalize on more of them, our margin for error will improve significantly. “
“Nevertheless, we are experiencing problems with turnovers at crucial moments, indicative of a lack of concentration and execution. Too often this leads to points for the opposition. There is much to rectify, and we must address this urgently.”
