More passing, more chaos, and Mr. Maxey: Three big reasons the Sixers are streaking

Four wins in a row doesn’t happen unless something changes, so let’s dive deeper into what’s turned the season ever so slightly around.

Finally, the vibes are alright in the City of Brotherly Love. The Philadelphia 76ers have won four games in a row and are now even with the Chicago Bulls for the 10th seed and final play-in spot.

It’s a real win streak too. Not over bottom feeders, tankers, or heavily depleted lineups. In order, the Sixers defeated the No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers, the No. 10 Chicago Bulls, the No. 5 Los Angeles Lakers, and the No. 10 Sacramento Kings. Chicago is the only team of that bunch that is not above .500. Before this stretch, the Sixers were just 4-18 against teams above. 500.

So, what’s changed? How has the team competed against great and good teams without their MVP Joel Embiid? Were Eric Gordon’s wisdom teeth replaced with an aimbot to turn him into the greatest three-point shooter of all time? Let’s discuss the first answers to the first two below. For the third, I’ve got no idea but it certainly seems so.

Ball movement
The team’s ball movement has been the most immediate and obvious offensive improvement during the four-game winning streak. According to NBA tracking data, the team is making 30 more passes per game during the streak (313.8 during, 283.1 before). I think it’s no coincidence that the team’s offensive rating has also risen during this stretch (120.5 during, 110.6 before).

It’s culminated in some absolutely gorgeous possessions where the ball moves from one corner to the next, touching all the Sixers’ hands as the defense scrambles in vain. It’s an offense the team has shown in flashes throughout the season, but never this consistently.

One particular action that creates ball movement by design and then by improvisation is a high pick-and/roll with Tyrese Maxey and Guerschon Yabusele (they also use it as a zone-breaker). Because Maxey’s been playing so well lately (more on that later), he is usually getting trapped on these pick-and-rolls. Instead of Maxey passing it to a rolling Yabu, he passes it to a teammate on either side of him who then passes it to a rolling Yabu.

This creates a man advantage for Yabu, who has shown great decision-making all season with this stretch being no different. He’ll find the cutter or the open shooter and is sometimes even rewarded with the ball eventually finding its way back to him for the easy shot.

But the whole team is making great decisions. Along with the passing, the number of drives the team is making has increased. It’s somewhat of a chicken-or-the-egg situation, but whether the passing has opened up driving lanes or the driving has opened up passing lanes doesn’t matter. They open each other up. Cutting. Driving and kicking. Passing up a good shot for a great shot. Everyone is eating.

Intentional defensive activity
Although disrupting passing lanes and getting handsy on defense has been a strength all season, the Sixers have turned it up over these last four games. They’ve upped their deflections from 19.4 per game before the streak (3rd in the league) to 22.8 during it (2nd in the league).

And they’ve done it violently. When an opposing player has dribbled inside the arc, multiple Sixers surround him instantly, like rabid dogs around a piece of meat thrown on the street. They get teethy. They rip down on the ball. If they don’t slap it away and gain possession, the opposing player will kick it back out.

And a Sixer is there to contest. The team is closing out on three-point shooters more than they have all season. Tracking data states they’re contesting three more three-point attempts per game during this streak. Uncoincidentally, opposing teams are shooting two percentage points worse from three during the streak.

It gets even more calculatedly disruptive when it’s a pass into the paint. Before the opposing player catches the ball, multiple Sixers await. Before the opposing player has registered they’ve caught the ball, it’s poked away. Watch how quickly Justin Edwards and Kyle Lowry are on the ball for these steals. They’ve broken up the offense before the opposing player has turned their back and faced the rim.

Every single Sixer has looked honed in, ready to follow and pounce on the ball as soon as it enters the paint. They’ve made a forage into the paint a scary proposition for the opposition.

After the win over the Sacramento Kings, Nick Nurse said lineup consistency has helped him gameplan more. “I think one of the biggest things [contributing to the win streak] is we kind of just knew who was playing,” he said.

This chaotic defense, collapsing on anyone as soon as they go to the rim is that game plan. They’re too in sync for it not to be.

Tyrese Maxey
Tyrese Maxey has stepped into the alpha role on this team. In both aspects I’ve mentioned already, he is leading by example. Offensively during this stretch, he is making 13 more passes per game, taking fewer pullup threes, and driving more. He’s increased his true-shooting percentage from 56.3% before the streak to 65.8% during. And it’s his drives that have taken his efficiency to the next level.

Before the streak, 71.8% of his points came off drives. During the steak, 89.9% of his points have come off drives. Before the streak, he was averaging 10.5 drive points on 48.6% shooting. During the streak, he’s averaging 15.5 drive points on 61% shooting.

He’s converting one-legged, off-balance shots through contact, perfectly executing turnarounds, or passing out when he inevitably draws three defenders in. He knows exactly when to use the floater or go up strong. And he seems to be converting five and-1s every game.

I mentioned above how teams are trapping him on pick-and-rolls. Well, that coverage has opened up shooters without Maxey even having to dribble. Just the mere threat that he might get into the paint draws defenders away from the likes of Justin Edwards, Kelly Oubre Jr., and the highly flammable Eric Gordon.

He’s also personified the defensive identity I mentioned above. During the streak, he’s averaging one more deflection per game (2.9 to 3.8) and has almost doubled his contests on three-point shots (1.7 to 3.4).

He’s stepped up when the team needed someone to. It could’ve all gone down the toilet and no one would have blamed Maxey, but, as Liberty Baller’s Paul Hudrick wrote about on Thursday night, Maxey’s taken on the responsibility.

“I think early in the year, I was kind of just … worried about what was going on,” Maxey said earlier this week. “There was a lot going on, injuries and all that, and it just kind of sucks. Now, I just kind of have the mindset of whoever’s out here is out here. We’ve got to go play extremely hard and give ourselves a chance to win the game. I know that’s going to start with me and I’m OK with that. I’m up for the challenge.”

To maintain the vibes, the Sixers must maintain this play. The postseason seems like an expectation now (finally). But if they turn this win streak into a positive month of basketball, the sixth seed is just four games away. Ahead are the ready-to-blow Bulls, the unfortunately injured Atlanta Hawks, the cooling Detroit Pistons, the faltering Orlando Magic, and the drama culture kings Miami Heat.

I’m not saying the Sixers will do it, or to expect them to, but they’ve shown they have great basketball in them. And that’s all we’ve wanted to see.