Sixers Training Camp Notebook: Shot Quality, Playing Outside the Box and More

Paradise Island, The Bahamas - Nestled within the walls of a ballroom at a Convention Center in The Atlantis, the Sixers are focused on shot quality, rebounding and playing hard.

A year ago, Nick Nurse and his staff were focused on fundamentals in training camp, the James Harden situation still very much up in the air. Now, they know what they have and who they are, and they're focused on building up rather than laying the foundation.

Here's what stood out from the second day of training camp.

• This week has served as a sort of real-time graduation for Tyrese Maxey, who looks like a seasoned vet to younger teammates. He's adjusting to that sub-role, making an effort to be more of a leader. "I lead by example now," Maxey told reporters on Wednesday. "I get up early and work out, early in the morning before practice. I'm always here on time, if not early. I like to win, man, I want to win. At the end of the day, I know how things work around here. I'm just trying to be more demanding, more determined and make them be more dominant."

• In the spirit of shot quality, Maxey is also getting acclimated to the new calculus that comes with switching Tobias Harris out for Paul George. George could be seen working on spot-up threes when media was let into practice on Wednesday. Maxey has observed how George changes the team's dynamic on offense:

  Tyrese Maxey says that Paul George’s shooting/quick trigger and size have really stood out in these first few days of practice. Described him as a “plug-and-play” star who lets the game come to him. Noted a clutch factor in his game, adding that George hit the game-winner today.

  — Austin Krell (@NBAKrell) October 2, 2024

• Not only is Maxey practicing leadership by example, but he's putting to practice what he worked on over the summer. Maxey highlighted lob connections with Andre Drummond and KJ Martin as one of the playmaking reads he's seen during their sessions thus far. For those counting at home, that's threes and shots at the rim. Also known as "shot quality".

• Role players, specifically those signed to one-year deals, speaking highly of Nurse and his staff is a theme that has carried over from last season. They feel empowered and free in a way that they perhaps didn't under their respective previous regimes. Guerschon Yabusele has been the most vocal about that thus far. He is particularly thankful that Nurse can take the temperature of the environment and address his team accordingly. "I know it's just the beginning, but he never screams," Yabusele said Wednesday. "He just talks. He makes sure that everybody understands and really is focused on what he's saying. But, as far as him coaching, for now, it's been unbelievable."

• "Yeah, I mean, I think the first part of that is I really need some data to see what they can do," Nurse told reporters on Wednesday. "I never really like to put somebody in a small window or small box and say, you know, 'Only do this and don't try any other'. So, I kind of want to see what they can do and see some things that they can try and all that kind of stuff. And we may kind of shape and mold their role as we go for a while, right? And then always give them a chance to expand that. That's kind of my thought, just in general on anybody. I just think that sometimes there's some guys with a lot more talent than maybe they show because they haven't been given the opportunity to show it. So, this time of year, kind of let it all go a little bit and see what's out there and then we start trying to see how it fits our team."

• Nurse senses quite a bit of growth from Kelly Oubre Jr. in year two over year one. "I think that he has a whole different level of comfort. He seems like he went from about year two to 10 to me, right? We know who he is. He knows who we are. He knows what we're doing," Nurse said Wednesday. "He came back stronger, in shape, focused. He's playing hard, but he just seems like he's more mature and more comfortable, which is really nice. We know what we have and he's really happy to be here and we're really happy to have him."

• Nurse told reporters at Media Day that Yabusele will almost certainly slot in at power forward. When the doors opened to media on Wednesday, Yabusele was working on floaters out of angled pick-and-rolls. When asked if non-traditional pick-and-roll actions have been a focus, Yabusele revealed that the staff has approached him about playing some center. "Yeah, for sure, I think that's going to be the key, too. If you have a lot of options in your bag, it's always good because you never know how the game goes," Yabusele said. "So, I might play four. I know some of the coaches asked me if I was good with playing five. So, I think it's just a read. We'll try different things during the season and I just got to be ready for it. So, I'm going to work on everything. Even if I don't have to use it, I'm still going to work on it. Just so I can keep it and get it ready."

• The Martins - no, not Caleb and Cody, but Caleb and KJ - seem to be shooting partners:

• Another shooting drill, but this one much more fascinating - Caleb Martin was one of the last guys on the court. He went through a spin-and-shoot drill, starting with his back turned to the basket and then jumping into a spin to face the basket before shooting immediately. That's ostensibly meant to train his muscle memory at certain spots on the floor because it takes perception of the basket out of his shot: