VJ Edgecombe's playoff explosion revealed how his scoring and athleticism perfectly complement Tyrese Maxey
VJ Edgecombe's Game 2 against Boston showed what Philadelphia's backcourt could look like at full flow. In Philadelphia's 111-97 win, Edgecombe finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and shot 60% from three, while Maxey had 29 points of his own.
Edgecombe has been one of the most productive rookies in the league. He averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists this season. While on the surface the fit looks odd due to both guards relying on their athleticism and quickness to put pressure on the defense, it has actually created a system where both can play off of each other.
Against Boston, Edgecombe made the Celtics pay for overcommitting to Maxey time and time again. Boston would shift their entire defense to clog the paint, but this left shooters open all night and led to Philadelphia shooting 48.7% from three as a team. Edegcombe especially made the Celtics pay, as he drilled four threes in five minutes to close out the first half. He also did a good job attacking the paint, rebounding, and running in transition. The ability to play off of the ball is a part of why his rookie season has been so good compared to typical first-year guard.
Long term, that may be where Philadelphia's hope lies. Maxey is at his best attacking downhill. Edgecombe can do that as well, but is also good at shooting off the catch and moving off the ball. A Maxey-Edgecombe backcourt wouldn't just be two athletic guards, it would be two scorers whose gravity and shotmaking abilites complement one another perfectly.
Edgecombe's outburst in Game 2 shows that he is a guard who could help the Philadelphia 76ers transition into their next era. A rookie guard playing against one of the best defenses in the league on the road in the playoffs and having 30 points is an extremely rare feat. But it shows that Edgecombe is ready for the big moments and will step up when Maxey needs support.
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Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at dixonwesley286@gmail.com.