The Philadelphia 76ers got a big win on Tuesday against the Memphis Grizzlies. VJ Edgecombe had a standout moment for the 76ers, as he scored the game-winning three-pointer. It was Tyrese Maxey who made the decisive pass, which led to the game winner, further cementing their status as a top backcourt in the Eastern Conference.
After the win against the Grizzlies, the 76ers are now up to fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. They are on the same number of losses as the fourth-seeded Toronto Raptors, but the Canadian team has played three more games compared to Philly. With how the 76ers played against the Grizzlies, they could go further up the standings.
Nurse is happy his backcourt is already meshing well
As the 76ers' head coach, Nick Nurse has set his team up well for success. He has persisted with Edgecombe as a starter alongside Maxey, which is already paying off. It is still Edgecombe's rookie season, but he is playing like a seasoned veteran. That is huge for the 76ers because not only are they playing well, but they appear to be a good fit alongside each other.
This is good for the present, but also the long-term future. Edgecombe has the potential to be one of the best shooting guards in the league. Maxey is arguably a top-two guard in the Eastern Conference, so getting a running mate is huge. Considering the 76ers still have Joel Embiid and Paul George, they have a good mix of promising players, stars, and veterans.
More: VJ Edgecombe hits game-winning shot in overtime
Moving forward, the 76ers have a reliable group of players with Maxey, Edgecombe, and Embiid. George can be a mixed bag, but he does have the resume to deserve to be one of the top players. Jared McCain is also on the roster, and he might not be as prominent as his rookie year, but he has the potential to be a long-term piece.
"First thing, it was nice to see those guys get rhythm up top for a good stretch of the game with their guard-to-guard screen, turned the corner a couple of times, and when they put two on the ball, we kicked it back out, made the right read... It's a big shot, game-winner for a rookie, pretty cool," Nurse said about the dynamic between Maxey and Edgecombe.
As the season progresses, Edgecombe will continue to get reps as one of the most reliable players on the 76ers roster. For a rookie, that is rare, but Edgecombe has enough talent and bravery to keep succeeding in Philly.
Nurse has done well to make everyone feel good in their roles, and Edgecombe is probably the happiest one. He is only a rookie, but he has shown that he is ready for the pressure, and he will continue to stand out amidst all the responsibilities he has with the 76ers.
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