The Philadelphia 76ers are expecting Tyrese Maxey to be sidelined for multiple weeks after the hamstring strain he sustained during the November 6 matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Sixers hope to hear some good news once he is re-evaluated. If the Sixers plan to crawl out of the hole they’ve dug themselves in, starting Jared McCain in his stead is their best bet.
The Sixers Should Start McCain In Place Of Maxey
After falling to the Lakers, the 76ers now sit at 1-7. They’re hopeful that their star big man, Joel Embiid will make his season debut on Tuesday against the New York Knicks. Even when he returns, they’ll now be without Maxey. Since the start of the season, Maxey has put the team on his back, putting up a career-best scoring average despite low efficiency. As the season kicks into full gear, the Sixers have a major decision to make. If they make the wrong one, Philly might see themselves in a much worse situation moving forward.
Lack Of Guard Production
One focal point this offseason was addressing the guard play. They did this by bringing in Eric Gordon and Reggie Jackson, re-signing Kyle Lowry, and drafting the young Duke standout McCain. Head coach Nick Nurse seems to still be having trouble with the rotation, and it shows. One moment Gordon is starting, and the next Lowry is in the starting lineup. Honestly, outside of Lowry and Maxey, McCain has been the only productive guard when given minutes.
So far this season, Lowry has provided Philly with ball-handling stability, with and without Maxey on the floor, and reliable spot-up shooting. He is shooting 48% on 3.1 catch-and-shoot three-point attempts per game. The same can’t be said for Gordon or Jackson. Gordon, despite solid performances against Phoenix, Memphis, and Indiana, has been inconsistent. For a team that has had problems at the guard spots in previous years, consistency and stability are key. With Jackson only playing limited minutes, he’s shown why he shouldn’t be playing. Between taking contested threes, missing looks at the rim, and being unable to create separation, there’s no reason for Jackson to see the floor.
Lack Of Shot Creation
Philly’s shot creation has been a huge problem this season. Before Paul George‘s return, Maxey was the only playmaker on the roster. And he and Kelly Oubre Jr. were the only self-shot creators on the roster. For a team that is last in the league in assists, and 27th in scoring, Maxey’s injuries ain’t helping. Starting McCain can help though. McCain has shown he’s capable of being a reliable ball-handler and spot-up shooter. In his four games of 15 or more minutes played, he’s averaging 13.2 points on 40.4/33.3/100 splits. An increase in his minutes and reps will help with his consistency and efficiency.
McCain’s off-ball movement, spot-up shooting, and self-creation were on display against the Lakers and Grizzlies. Shooting 4-9 from three-point range against the Lakers, showed his ability to move without the ball and his quick release off the catch. His 8-16 field goal shooting against Memphis, showed his quickness when pushing the ball on the break, and his ability to use his dribble to get inside. The loss of Maxey will be a huge blow for Philly in the coming weeks. Starting McCain can help provide him the confidence that will benefit the team in the long-run.
