The Philadelphia 76ers are making a huge change to their starting lineup as they are inserting Shake Milton into the starting lineup as a way to use their speed and space the floor offensively. The move appears to be working on that end thus far as the team’s offense has looked solid in two scrimmages.
However, Milton does understand that he needs to be a much better defender when the games really do begin for Philadelphia. The Sixers are a team that will lean on their defense to fuel their offense and Milton will have to step up on that end of the floor.
“Just focusing on the little things. Focusing on the details. Knowing personnel,” said Milton. “That’s been a big thing in the locker room and something that we’ve been trying to accomplish and get better at. So, just taking care of the little things and focusing on the personnel.”
After their first scrimmage game on Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies, coach Brett Brown explained that Milton’s defense was a little uneven.
“There were times he was an ‘A’, there were times it was a ‘C’, I think he ranged from average to very good,” said Brown. “The consistency of anything ends up being the holy grail. I thought during that game, our offense went quick shot, bad shot, you blink and they make a few threes, we ended up kind of rolling out more of our bench opportunities so we can see that in the second half. In general, I thought Shake was better than I expected to be truthful and now it’s just can you do it for a little bit longer?”
When the season resumes and the Sixers have to take on tough opponents such as Kemba Walker, Kendrick Nunn, Eric Bledsoe, and other point guards in the Eastern Conference, the challenge will be on Milton to step up and play defense. He has learned that in his short time in the NBA thus far that guys are talented and that he needs to be on his toes every night.
“Guys in this league are good,” he finished with. “There isn’t a huge drop-off in talent a lot of times between first and second units. It’s still the league. Guys are going to compete, guys are competitive and get after it. You always have to be on you’re A-game.”
Philadelphia takes on the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday in their final scrimmage game. That will be Milton’s next chance to work on his defensive skills. [lawrence-related id=35617,35604,35590]