In light of Ben Simmons' holdout from the Philadelphia 76ers, Doc Rivers has some tweaking to do within his rotations before the regular season kicks off in just over a week. Through two preseason games, there is still no clear decision on who will start at point guard for the Sixers moving forward. As things currently stand, Rivers' options are Tyrese Maxey and Shake Milton. The two guards will likely be in a quiet tournament for the coming weeks to see who is the better fit in the starting lineup.
Even though Maxey got most of the reps with the starters during camp, Rivers might be better off going in a different direction. It's not that the young guard can't handle the challenge, his set of skills are just better suited for the second unit.
Using the two preseason games as a sample, Maxey looked much more comfortable coming off the bench. Milton also settled in nicely within the starting lineup after getting off to a rocky start. Having Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris in the lineup certainly made Milton's night easier, but multiple factors point towards Maxey being best utilized as the sixth man.
One factor that stands out is size. Maxey and Seth Curry are a rather small backcourt pairing and could cause problems defensively. Milton might not be a prolific defender, but his long wingspan gives the Sixers some length are the guard position.
Playstyle is another big thing that comes into play with this decision. In his short time in the NBA, Maxey has shown he can score in bunches when given the opportunity. When in the lineup with Embiid, Curry, and Tobias Harris, it limits how much he can let loose as a microwave scorer. But if he comes off the bench, his ability to create offense can provide a much-needed element to a second unit that struggled to create consistent offense last season.
In the Sixers' preseason win over the Raptors Thursday, Maxey showed a glimpse of the spark he can provide off the bench. In just 21 minutes of action, the second-year guard dropped 14 points and dished five assists. Having a pick-and-roll partner like Andre Drummond proved extremely beneficial for Maxey as the bruising center created more than enough space for him to get downhill and showcase his impressive layup package.
At this point, it's truly a matter of preference when debating which guard Rivers should go with. That said, Tyrese Maxey being groomed to be the team's sixth man of the future might be more important for the Sixers in the grand scheme of things.
Whenever the Simmons trade saga comes to an end, the starting lineup is likely to change again. With no true point guards on the Sixers' roster right now, it's fair to assume Morey acquires one in a deal for the three-time All-Star.
Having someone off the bench who can create for themselves is something the Sixers have lacked over the years. If Maxey's development keeps trending in the right direction, he might have a chance to be the best sixth man the team has had since Lou Williams.
Rivers still has time to make a final decision, but the long-term benefits of molding Tyrese Maxey into a sixth man/super-sub might outweigh using him to fill the hole Simmons left in the starting lineup until a trade happens.
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