With the return of James Harden, Shake Milton will have to remain effective with fewer minutes

With injuries to James Harden and then Tyrese Maxey, Shake Milton joined the Sixers’ major five. Quite a change for the back, who was not in Doc Rivers’ rotation for the first games of the campaign, and was shooting at 4.9 points (47% from the field including 18% from afar) and 1.8 assists in 11 games as substitute.

Since he started? 21.3 points (55% including 46% from afar) and 6.0 passes on average! Obviously, this is linked to the increase in his playing time, from 14 to 38 minutes per game, but not only.

“The workforce is deep” reminds his coach. “So not everyone is going to be able to play (with the return of James Harden, perhaps tomorrow evening, then that of Tyrese Maxey). but some guys are going to play and Shake is one of them. There will always be competition, for minutes, but Shake has proven he can play. Hoping it continues. Can he play this role with less minutes? That’s what’s going to happen. »

Doc Rivers thus recalls that the hierarchy imposes limits in terms of playing time. For Shake Milton, very effective in the absence of the holders, the objective is therefore to keep this impact off the bench.

“These guys have had a lot of minutes, and they can play. They have fewer minutes, and sometimes they can’t play. But he will succeed. Shake is one more fullback. We know we can use it, and that’s fine. »

For his part, the person concerned assures that he can very well assume this role. As long as we give it a chance…

“I’m sure I can do it. I feel like I can play anywhere in this league. I just need an opportunity to show it. All you can ask for is an opportunity to be on the pitch and play.”