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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 11: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball against Landry Shamet #44 of the New York Knicks in the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on February 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

If the Philadelphia 76ers win their Wednesday night Play-In game against the Orlando Magic, they’ll pick up the Eastern Conference’s seventh seed. That would call for a first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics.

Considering the fact that the Sixers are likely to roll without their top star, Joel Embiid, in the first round, the Sixers are going to be viewed as heavy underdogs in the playoffs. It will be up to Tyrese Maxey to lead an upset.

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons doesn’t envision a Sixers win in round one, but he feels like Maxey could hit another gear in the playoffs.

On a Monday episode of The Bill Simmons podcast, the host named Maxey as the “leap” guy in the upcoming postseason.

Bill Simmons Makes A Major Tyrese Maxey Statement

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 22: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during a game against the Houston Rockets at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

“I don’t know if this will happen, but if you’re just looking at the playoffs and saying which guy can completely change his narrative in a month and a half? I took Haliburton a year ago because I thought the Pacers had a legitimate chance to win a round or two, and I liked how he was playing. I liked that team. I don’t like this Sixers team as much,” Simmons said.

“If they are in a 2-7 matchup against the Celtics, I think he would go toe-to-toe with the Celtics for two weeks, and all of the Celtics fans would be terrified of him and relieved to get rid of him by the end of this series. If he goes against Detroit, same thing. I actually think he has another gear in him. He’s great at home. The fans really believe in him. He’s a guy who could just go for 36 a game in the playoffs or some crazy thing. I can just see it.”

Simmons was joined by the prominent analyst, Zach Lowe, who agreed with the assessment. Lowe recalled Maxey’s most recent playoff run from two seasons ago, when he was “sensational” against the New York Knicks.

During the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Maxey took the court for an average of 44.5 minutes per game. He produced 29.8 points per game, while shooting 47.8% from the field and 40.0% from three.

The star guard came down with 5.2 rebounds per game and dished out 6.8 assists per game.

Would The 76ers Have A Shot Against The Celtics?

Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty ImagesPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – FEBRUARY 05: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the second half against the Miami Heat at the Wells Fargo Center on February 05, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Simmons recently went on record to state that he viewed the Sixers as a major threat to the Celtics in the NBA Playoffs before the latest Joel Embiid setback went into play.

While Embiid doesn’t have a timetable for his return set in place, he seems to have a low chance of getting back in time for the start of the first round.

There’s a lot of pressure on Tyrese Maxey to be the 1A star in the postseason this year. After the 76ers missed playoff action in 2025, Maxey and the Sixers have just two more chances to make the playoffs this year. They will have a first-round series against the Celtics or the Pistons.