Doc Rivers suggests De’Anthony Melton needs All-Star break the most
PHILADELPHIA–Philadelphia 76ers guard De’Anthony Melton has been such a big addition for the team since they acquired him on draft night from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for veteran Danny Green.
In his first season in Philadelphia, Melton is averaging 10.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.7 steals while shooting 40.1% from deep on 5.4 attempts. He does that all while defending the opposition’s best scorer.
However, one might say the Sixers are overworking Melton a bit. He has already started 45 games, a career-high, and he has also already played 1,537 minutes on the season with 25 games still to go. Considering the 1,657 minutes he played for the Grizzlies in the 2021-22 season were a career-high, he needs this All-Star break more than anybody.
“I think a lot of guys needed the break and De’Anthony being one of them,” said coach Doc Rivers on Wednesday after a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. “We ask him to guard the best guy every single night. He’s got a hard job so I think he can’t wait to just relax for a couple days. Not worry about every single night there’s a good player on the other team.”
Over the final nine games heading into the break, Melton did shoot the ball well as he shot 43.8% from deep, but there was a 1-for-5 game in there and then he didn’t get much of an opportunity in a Feb. 11 win over the Brooklyn Nets as he played only 14 minutes after a sluggish start. If the Sixers are to do anything in the playoffs, they will need their two-way guy to be fresh for when the games matter the most.
When asked about Melton possibly hitting a wall after the win on Feb. 11, Rivers did mention the break and how beneficial it will be for him.
“The wall, if it is, we got All-Star break coming up,” Rivers said in Brooklyn. “We got rest coming up and we’re gonna need it because our March is awful, but I’m not concerned. I’m really not.”
To Rivers’ point, Melton has proven to be a helpful addition all season long and one has to assume that he will be ready to go when the team comes back from the break.
