The reserves:
Shake Milton – 16.8 PTS 1.8 RBS 3.5 ASST 1.2 STL .3 BLK
Shake is the modern-day version of Vinnie Johnson. Doc Rivers has coached up quite a few ‘Sixth Men of the Year’ and Shake could be next in line for the award if the team continues its early success.
Milton is shooting just under 50% from the field and 35.6% from beyond the arc. Where the underdog will really help the team is that he’s currently at 86.8% from the free-throw line. In tight games, Milton can be counted on to score, but more importantly, he can get to the line and convert on those free throws.
Grade: A
Tyrese Maxey – 10.6 PTS 2.5 RBS 2.3 ASST .6 sTL .2 BLK
Many people wondered why Maxey has slipped so far in the NBA draft and rightly so. Maxey has unlimited energy, looks to play hard on defense, and can light up the scoreboard when given the chance.
In the Sixers 115-103 loss to the Nuggets, Maxey started in a shorthanded lineup and proceeded to give the team 39 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. It was the first-ever start for the 21st overall pick.
The Sixers seem to have really hit on this pick. Maxey, who operates better with the ball in his hands, can run the point on the second unit while Milton plays off the ball.
He needs to improve his three-point shooting and shot selection but currently, he’s at 46% from the field and 77.8% from the free-throw line.
The rookie is playing very well and Rivers is giving him important minutes early in the season that can only lead to success as the year goes on.
Grade: B+
Dwight Howard – 6.9 PTS 7.9 RBS .9 ASST .2 STL .8 BLK
Howard is averaging just under 18 minutes per game, with that number being a little high as he’s played in place of Embiid a few times already. He’ll likely settle into the 12 minutes per game that he saw last year.
What really helps is that Howard is still a great athlete. He’s in fantastic shape and is allowing the Sixers to rest Embiid more so as to not burn him out.
Where Howard has really shined is as a leader. It’s rare to see a former “superstar” take being a role player so graciously. He’s constantly cheering on the team, talking with the younger players, and has organized post-game shootarounds to show the younger players exactly what it takes to become a champion.
Dwight Howard has already, in the early part of this season, surpassed the expectations of many. He’s one of the most valuable pieces of the Sixers championship puzzle.
Grade: A+
Isaiah Joe – 7.1 PTS 1.8 RBS 1.3 ASST .4 STL .4 BLK
Joe has seen some extended minutes over the past week, due to the COVID restrictions placed upon the team. He’s been up and down in his performance but actually started to look more like the deadly shooter that he came to known for at Arkansas over the last few games.
While 38.6% from deep doesn’t really jump off the page as something extraordinary, he’s had limited minutes and is coming off a college season when he took more than eleven three-point shots a game. He’s learning at the highest level and Doc Rivers has shown some trust in him after being able to see him play of late. If he continues to develop through the year and doesn’t get discouraged by the lack of playing time, he’ll provide valuable bench minutes late in the season.
Grade: C
Mike Scott – 4.9 PTS 2.8 RBS .1 ASST .3 STL .3 BLK
Scott is averaging just over 19 minutes per game this year and that’s only been of late. He became an off-court darling during his two years with the team but seems more of an afterthought this season.
He still has the energy and fire that the team loves, it’s just not as visible after the team brought in a good number of quality players that have inhibited Scotts’s playing time.
When the games get tougher, toward the end of the season and in the playoffs, Scott could see a slightly larger role as his veteran presence and play will be needed if the younger players don’t continue their upward trends.
Grade: D
Furkan Korkmaz – 6.3 PTS 1.8 RBS .8 ASST .8 STL .5 BLK
Shooting was supposed to get Kork on the floor this year. Currently, he’s sitting around 26% on his three-point attempts and that’s not going to cut it. Not with players like Curry, Green, Harris and Milton, playing as they have been.
Where Korkmaz may get sometimes is if any one of the guards sees extended time out due to injury, but it would have to be a couple of them as Maxey and Milton have stepped up in the absence of Seth Curry. Korkmaz is being relegated to mop-up duty in games and really only seems to be reliable at the free throw line.
Grade: D
Sixers Head Coach
Doc Rivers: 10-5 record (1st in the Eastern Conference)
Doc’s ability to get the most out of players is shining through early on. With the exception of Simmons’ lack of scoring, the team has played exceptionally well and come together quickly.
Joel Embiid is having his minutes managed correctly and it’s put him at the top of the MVP conversation, Simmons has been averaging close to a triple-double, and with the shooters catching fire, the offense looks stunning.
The Sixers currently rank third in team defense as well as offense. That’s a testament to the level of coaching that Rivers has brought to Philly. If they can keep it up, the Sixers should see a long playoff run and could wind up in the NBA Finals at the end of this season.
Grade: A+
Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire
