Tyrese Maxey, Sixers praise De’Anthony Melton after win over Wizards
When the Philadelphia 76ers acquired De’Anthony Melton from the Memphis Grizzlies back on draft night in June, they knew they would be getting a legitimate two-way player. A guy who can contribute on both ends of the floor.
They got a big example of that on Monday in a 118-111 win over the Washington Wizards on the road. Melton had 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting, he had three assists, and he bothered Wizards star Bradley Beal into a tough night shooting the ball.
After the win, Maxey joined NBC Sports Philadelphia courtside and he was asked about Melton as well as the play of PJ Tucker and he gave a lot of love to Melton:
They’re balling, man. Melton has found his niche. PJ, he’s been around for 35 years so he’s been in the league a long time, so he knows what he’s gonna do. He played with James before so he knows exactly what the spacing is like and everything that he needs to do to play with him, but Melton’s huge man. They call him Mr. Do Something for a reason and that’s what he does. We asked him to guard Bradley Beal, we asked him to make open 3s, we asked him to roll, we asked him to pop, we asked him to do so many different things on the basketball court, and that’s what he does.
It was a slow start to the season for Melton who was helpful defensively, but he couldn’t find a groove offensively. However, to end the road trip, he looks to be in a nice rhythm for the Sixers and he looks more comfortable.
“Honestly, the two things is just playing with him more, number one,” coach Doc Rivers told reporters “Number two is touching the ball. The first two games, he never really touched the ball a lot. Now we’re sharing the ball more as a team, and he feels more involved. He’s such a disrupter defensively, and again, I keep saying it, I knew he was good, I didn’t know he was this good, defensively. His hands are just incredible.”
The Sixers will now return home on Wednesday to face this very same Wizards team.
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