The hope around the Philadelphia 76ers as the 2020-21 season approaches is that they will play faster and they will run more pick-and-roll on offense. Due to the unprecedented situation the team is dealing with due to the pandemic, coach Doc Rivers wants to keep everything simple.
The Sixers will only have about a week of group workouts when they begin on Dec. 6 and then they will play their first preseason game on Dec. 15. Rivers wants to have everything simplified to begin the season and that means good things for guys like Shake Milton.
Milton will most likely be used in a super-sub role for the team a la Jamal Crawford or Lou Williams and the idea of playing faster on a team that features Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Danny Green, and Tobias Harris is something that excites him.
“I think as a team, we’re going to be able to do it,” Milton said. “I think if we’re able to just get on the same page. It starts with our defense and just thinking faster, thinking quicker pace, getting the ball up and out to the wings, and trying to make plays that way. I think that’s going to be good for this team.”
On top of that, when the team can’t run, they will be running more pick-and-roll in the halfcourt offense. Milton will be able to use some of his ball-handling and scoring ability to be able to get to the basket and really become a dynamic player in that type of offense.
“I feel like that’s going to help me grow my game,” he said of the pick-and-roll. “It’s not always about random pick-and-roll, taking a shot, it’s about getting other guys in position to score and to help the team win in whatever way. I feel like me being able to pass the ball or shoot the ball coming off and making the right reads I feel like that’s something like we could check.”
Being able to have the ball in his hands more and be able to push the pace or even run that pick-and-roll in the halfcourt will allow Milton to play with more freedom than he had in the past. He now should be able to play a little more aggressively and not have to look over his shoulder under Rivers’ guidance.
“For me, it means to be more aggressive and just be free to play,” he explained. “It’s not really about coming down and shooting whatever shot that’s not what a green light is, shooting crazy shots. It’s having the freedom to make plays and to have confidence in what you’re doing so whether it is me shooting or whether it is me driving, getting somebody else open for a shot is just having the confidence to go out there and be aggressive.”
Milton had a strong 2019-20 campaign and he has earned the right to play freer. It will be something to keep an eye on as the 2020-21 season approaches rapidly. [lawrence-related id=39717,39706,39698]