If it seems like defenders goaltend a lot of Tyrese Maxey’s layups, it’s because they do.
In fact, Maxey actually leads the NBA in having his attempts goaltended — and by a healthy margin.
“Wow. There’s a stat for everything nowadays,” Maxey said postgame Monday.
But it’s not a coincidence. There’s a fairly simple explanation for why defenders attempt and fail so frequently at swatting Maxey’s shots. The All-Star guard has worked so hard on his craft that even elite shot blockers are caught off balance and have their timing thrown off by his funky finishes.