Philadelphia 76ers 2021-22 season in review: Shake Milton
For Philadelphia 76ers guard Shake Milton, the 2021-22 season was frustrating. Locked in a battle with Tyrese Maxey to earn the starting point guard job out of the preseason, he suffered an ankle injury that sidelined him while Maxey flourished in his new role.
Then, when Milton looked like he was getting his groove back, he tested positive for COVID-19 in December and suffered a back contusion in January. Both caused him to miss significant time.
Despite those setbacks, there were some good moments for Milton. He still worked his way through another season of leading the bench. He worked his way back into the rotation and was a fixture in the playoffs as well.
Milton's 2021-22 season averages
8.2 points
2.6 rebounds
2.5 assists
42.9% field goal percentage
32.3% 3-point field goal percentage
83.6% free-throw percentage
Season highlights
It took a little bit for Milton to get going; the ankle injury was a big issue for him at the beginning of the season. He scored in double figures, but it wasn’t the most efficient game out on the floor. Once he caught his rhythm in late November and early December, he tested positive for COVID-19. When he returned a few weeks later, he played only two games before suffering the back contusion on Jan. 3.
Once he returned on Feb. 11, Milton couldn’t regain his footing until a March 21 game against the Miami Heat when he scored 20 points to help the short-handed team get the job done. He also had 30 points in the season finale with the Detroit Pistons, which secured his spot in the playoff rotation.
Playoff run
Milton had solid numbers in the playoffs off the bench. He scored at least seven points in four of the 12 games he played. In the first round against the Toronto Raptors, he served as another ball-handler and a body who could properly match up with the physical and pesky Raptors.
In the second round against the Heat, Milton was in the rotation. However, coach Doc Rivers was trying to tinker with some things, and he played only 1:23 in the Game 2 loss and 8:35 in the Game 3 win. He scored 15 points off the bench in the Game 6 elimination game.
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