Last night the Sixers picked up a win against the Atlanta Hawks in what was the return of Joel Embiid after missing time due to a foot injury. Embiid led the way with 30pts, 8rebs, and 7ast while shooting 9/18 from the field.
Shake Milton balls out (again) for the Sixers
Shake Milton continues to impress in the absence of the team’s top two guards in James Harden and Tyrese Maxey. Milton scored his fourth 20-plus point game last night with a stat line of 21pts, 5rebs, and 7ast. Although, it was not a very efficient night from Milton as he went 9/20 from the field. Shake continues to showcase his offensive package, while also making some timely baskets down the stretch.
Milton is growing in confidence as each game goes by and it shows. This will only help Doc Rivers as he continues to mix and match his bench lineups to see what works and who can be called upon in the playoffs.
Embiid The Playmaker:
Over the last five games Embiid has played, he’s totaled over six assists per game. It’s pretty clear that Embiid has taken the initiative to concentrate on creating for others when he operates out of the post. This shows his willingness to be a team player and so far he has been rewarded for those efforts. It’s a known fact that Embiid struggles at times to handle double teams, but with this added element, it will only make the process even harder to defend.
Conclusion:
This season is a make-or-break year for many people in the Sixers organization as in the past four years, they are yet to get out of the second round of the playoffs. Anything short of an eastern conference finals berth or NBA Finals appearance will be a failure.
Shake Milton and his possible emergence as a major contributor off the bench and Embiid tapping into his playmaking bag this season are things to watch for as the year goes on, but this was a nice step forward from the Sixers, who are beginning to find a floor after battling injury woes.
AP Photo/Matt Slocum
