The Philadelphia 76ers have navigated the first 15 games of their 2025-26 season, and with that comes an examination of how head coach Nick Nurse constructs his rotations. At the heart of this discussion is Tyrese Maxey, who has been nothing short of phenomenal.
Maxey's incredible scoring ability – a league-high 33.4 points per game – makes him nearly unstoppable alongside VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes. The trio's three-guard lineup has proven electric from the get-go, with Maxey driving the success of this combination more than anyone else. However, it is not just Maxey who deserves praise; Edgecombe has also surpassed expectations in his rookie season.
But what makes this trio truly special is Grimes, the 6-foot-5 guard who must slide up to the wing and guard well above his size. Despite some limitations defending NBA wings, Nurse has consistently trusted Grimes to defend high-profile players in crunch time. Grimes' ability to guard elite scorers like Jaylen Brown and Khris Middleton has been invaluable.
Grimes' own game is built on aggression, with him always trying to attack the rim and create for himself and others. When asked about his defensive approach, Grimes said, "I'm just trying to win. I want my team to win. I feel like when I'm aggressive, when the team's aggressive, when everyone's in attack mode, it kind of puts the defense on their heels."
As the Sixers look to continue their success without Kelly Oubre Jr., who will miss at least two weeks with a knee sprain, Grimes' increased role as a small forward is no surprise. Nurse has flirted with starting Grimes alongside Maxey and Edgecombe in second halves, and it's only a matter of time before this lineup becomes the standard.
When Maxey sits, however, the Sixers struggle mightily. Their net rating drops to -10.3 in these situations, highlighting just how much Embiid's presence on the court can alleviate this issue. But with Embiid's own knee issues putting him at a defensive disadvantage, it's unclear whether the 76ers have found a sustainable solution.
Despite this, Maxey's incredible talent has propelled the Sixers to a remarkable level of success. His career-high 54-point performance against Milwaukee showcases his impressive all-around game. However, as the season progresses, it will be crucial for Nurse to strike a balance between giving Maxey ample playing time and developing other players.
For now, Grimes remains the key to making this lineup compatible for all parties involved. With Grimes' aggressive approach and ability to guard above his size, he has been the Sixers' best late-game player this season. As the team looks to build around their burgeoning superstar guard, it's clear that Grimes will continue to be a vital cog in the machine.
Maxey's incredible scoring ability – a league-high 33.4 points per game – makes him nearly unstoppable alongside VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes. The trio's three-guard lineup has proven electric from the get-go, with Maxey driving the success of this combination more than anyone else. However, it is not just Maxey who deserves praise; Edgecombe has also surpassed expectations in his rookie season.
But what makes this trio truly special is Grimes, the 6-foot-5 guard who must slide up to the wing and guard well above his size. Despite some limitations defending NBA wings, Nurse has consistently trusted Grimes to defend high-profile players in crunch time. Grimes' ability to guard elite scorers like Jaylen Brown and Khris Middleton has been invaluable.
Grimes' own game is built on aggression, with him always trying to attack the rim and create for himself and others. When asked about his defensive approach, Grimes said, "I'm just trying to win. I want my team to win. I feel like when I'm aggressive, when the team's aggressive, when everyone's in attack mode, it kind of puts the defense on their heels."
As the Sixers look to continue their success without Kelly Oubre Jr., who will miss at least two weeks with a knee sprain, Grimes' increased role as a small forward is no surprise. Nurse has flirted with starting Grimes alongside Maxey and Edgecombe in second halves, and it's only a matter of time before this lineup becomes the standard.
When Maxey sits, however, the Sixers struggle mightily. Their net rating drops to -10.3 in these situations, highlighting just how much Embiid's presence on the court can alleviate this issue. But with Embiid's own knee issues putting him at a defensive disadvantage, it's unclear whether the 76ers have found a sustainable solution.
Despite this, Maxey's incredible talent has propelled the Sixers to a remarkable level of success. His career-high 54-point performance against Milwaukee showcases his impressive all-around game. However, as the season progresses, it will be crucial for Nurse to strike a balance between giving Maxey ample playing time and developing other players.
For now, Grimes remains the key to making this lineup compatible for all parties involved. With Grimes' aggressive approach and ability to guard above his size, he has been the Sixers' best late-game player this season. As the team looks to build around their burgeoning superstar guard, it's clear that Grimes will continue to be a vital cog in the machine.
his ability to guard above his size is unreal, especially when he slides up to wing 
and defends high-profile players in crunch time. nurse needs to keep trusting him to make this lineup work seamlessly 
maxey gets a lot of attention with those 33.4 points per game, but grimes is the one who makes it all click on defense 
gotta say, I'm low-key terrified about Tyrese Maxey's playing time. Like, what happens when he sits? The Sixers' net rating drops to -10.3! That's crazy bad 
. And with Embiid's own knee issues, it's unclear if they've found a sustainable solution. This is why I always get anxious whenever I watch the playoffs 
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. I mean we all know Maxey and Grimes are carrying the team on offense, but what about defense? Edgecombe has been solid at times, but how reliable is he in crunch time? Grimes talks a good game about being aggressive, but can he really get it done when it matters most? The Sixers have to find that balance or they'll fall apart 
but im not sure how long maxey can keep up this pace? 33.4 points per game is insane, but at what cost to his body? and thats where grimes comes in, he's the unsung hero of this team, always trying to attack the rim and create for others 
. Their three-guard lineup has been electric so far, and I'm curious to see if they can sustain it throughout the season without Embiid 
. Also, I think Nurse needs to work on finding a balance between giving Maxey playing time and developing other players like Grimes and Edgecombe 
. It's easy to get distracted by one star player (Maxey), but it's the guys who step up and do their jobs that really make the team tick (Edgecombe) 
. And then you've got Quentin Grimes, playing above his size, being like the ultimate #3 
. The key takeaway here is that balance is everything, especially when you're building around a superstar. You gotta give some guys time to shine and develop their own skills while still letting the team's best player be the star of the show 
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. I love how Nurse trusts him to guard high-profile players in crunch time, it shows he believes in his abilities.
I'm loving how Nurse is trusting Grimes with big defensive matchups 
. It's not always easy for guys like him to step up and perform, but he's really showing his skills this season 
... that's gotta change if they wanna stay on top!
we need some other players step up their game ASAP. Can't rely on just one guy no matter how talented 
Nurse gotta find a way to balance it out and make sure everyone's gettin' their fair share of time on the court 
. It's like the government is trying to create economic growth by expanding social programs, you need to have a solid foundation of players supporting your superstar 
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. Nurse needs to find a way to make Maxey and Grimes coexist without letting their individual greatness overshadow the team's overall performance 
! If Nurse can keep trusting him to guard high-profile players and thrive on offense, we might just see the Sixers make a deep playoff run 
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gotta start giving credit where credit is due 
the 6'5" grimes has got game 
now if only Nurse could find a way to keep the other guys healthy...
He's got 33.4 points per game but defense is key here. If he's not playing D, it doesn't matter how good his offense is. And Grimes has been doing a lot of work to cover for him...
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. I'm excited to see how Nurse navigates this situation and finds a way for everyone to thrive 
His career-high 54-point performance was insane, but if he's gonna be the main man, we need to see more of Edgecombe and Grimes in lineups without him 
. And it's not just about defense, either - Grimes' ability to create for himself and others on offense is underrated. He's always attacking the rim and finding ways to get his teammates involved 
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. I mean, it's like they're two peas in a pod - they both love to attack and make plays 
. So yeah, let's give it up for Grimes - he's the real MVP right now 
. What do you guys think?