Sixers Summer League Game 1 Instant Reactions

Sixers basketball is back! The Summer League has begun and the Sixers have sent there youngsters to Las Vegas in order to get some important minutes to get acclimated to the NBA game. On paper the Sixers have one of the best teams in this year’s Summer League, headlined by Tyrese Maxey, Paul Reed, Isaiah Joe and 28th overall pick Jaden Springer. The team cruised to an easy win over the Mavericks by a score of 95-73.

Here are some takeaways.

Tyrese Maxey is too good to be playing in the Summer League

Sixers fans saw exactly how important Tyrese Maxey can be to this team both now and in the future at times during last season. He led the team to an important playoff win, put up 39 points in a regular season game and is now on his way to dominating the Summer League in his second year. Every minute Maxey was on the court, he was the best player out there. He was a confident decision maker, willing passer and aggressive shooter/driver as proven by his 21 points. It wouldn't be a shock if the Sixers saw this performance and decided to send Maxey home after just one game. He is simply too good to be playing in these games.

A tale of two halves for Jaden Springer

When Jaden Springer fell to No. 28 in this year’s draft many were surprised — and the Sixers didn't take long to snatch him up. One of the youngest players in the draft class, Springer has all of the raw tools that, if coached up correctly, can make him a successful player. Struggling to find his shot in the first half (1-7 from the field), Springer still had his hands all over the game by making key defensive plays. His active hands and strong frame coupled with his natural instincts on the defensive end make him the perfect guard to pair with the offensive-minded Maxey.

It took just one half for Springer to look like he felt more confident on the court. In the second half he showed off some of the offensive flashes that had him towards the top of several big boards during the draft process. Springer constantly drove inside, and when he wasn’t going up, he was waiting for the defense to cave in so he could drop a pass in to a waiting teammate. His final stat line of 11 points (4 of 12 from the field), two assists, two blocks, four turnovers says everything you need to know about Springer’s game right now — a mixed bag with some big upside. Springer may never be an offensive juggernaut, but if he can play with the confidence he had in the second half he can be a difference maker. How much he figures into this years Sixers rotation remains to be seen, but Springer is for sure worth taking the time to develop.

Isaiah Joe looks ready for meaningful minutes

Obviously you don’t want to over-exaggerate after one Summer League game, but Isaiah Joe looked like he was positioning to play a bigger role on the Sixers this year. The sharpshooter came out of the gates hot in this one, not afraid to pull the trigger anywhere on the court. For most of the first half it was Joe and Tyrese Maxey pacing the team as you’d expect from two players who were given NBA minutes just a few months ago. The re-signing of Furkan Korkmaz has put a damper on the idea that Joe would slide into the rotation full time as the top three point bench option but there’s no reason why they can’t both play. Shooters are very volatile players so having multiple options is never a bad idea. If Joe can continue to show the confidence in his shot that he exhibited in the first game, the Sixers should feel comfortable giving him more minutes in his second year.