Multiple Sixers impressed by Shake Milton’s performance vs. Grizzlies
The Philadelphia 76ers continue to be shorthanded as they work through their current weekend road trip. They do not have Joel Embiid on this trip and they need others to step up when the moment calls for it.
In Saturday’s tough 106-104 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, that guy was Shake Milton. The third-year guard from SMU led a comeback in the fourth quarter as he scored 15 points in the final frame on his way to 28 for the game. His work brought the Sixers back into it and he really gave them a chance late.
“I told him ‘Shake, keep it on, keep the foot on the gas, don’t hold yourself back’, coach Doc Rivers said after the game. “I thought he held himself back in the first half. I thought in the second half, he went for it again and I want Shake to be that way. Every night, no matter who’s on the floor, and all situations, because that’s his ability, and I’m trying to get him to see that every night, that can be Shake Milton.”
This comes after Milton put up 31 points and seven assists in a previous performance off the bench against the Miami Heat. He continues to turn heads as he thrives in his current bench role.
“Shake’s been great,” said Tobias Harris. “He’s just a guy that has a lot of confidence, and he doesn’t shy away from the moment. At the same time, he’s really skilled with the basketball and finishing. He’s got the mid-range game so he can pretty much score on all three levels. 3-pointer, mid-range, and get into the rim and go with the basketball.”
Milton shared the court with a future Hall of Famer in Dwight Howard as well as star Ben Simmons in helping Philadelphia get back in the game. He shot seven free throws and he knocked down two from deep on his way to his big game.
“He’s been great,” said Simmons. “I think, offensively, he’s just been staying aggressive, getting to the line, making shots. He continues to work on his game so he’s been great.”
Howard had been impressed by Milton’s game before, but now that he has a few games with him, he has seen his game up close.
“He’s doing an amazing job, he gets to his spots, he’s shootouts great shots, I haven’t seen him really take any bad shots,” said the 17-year veteran. “He’s done a good job. He got us back in the game with his offense late in the game. I thought he did an amazing job. We got to keep feeding late in the game. It seems like he’s finishing, getting buckets late in the game, and he did a good job. I’m real proud of Shake.”
The Sixers will finish up the quick trip on Sunday when they visit the Oklahoma City Thunder.
