Sixers vs. Grizzlies: 5 things to watch for in first Orlando scrimmage

1. Shake!

I mean, duh! This is Shake Milton’s first run as the starting point guard. In fact, it’s his first playing time next to the rest of the starting five, period. He hasn’t played a single minute next to the Josh Richardson, Tobias Harris, Ben Simmons, and Joel Embiid quartet this season.

Milton set the NBA ablaze in the weeks leading up to the hiatus. He dropped 39 points on the Clippers, made Paul George call for help, and shot a cool 45.3 percent from deep. On paper, he’s the volume-shooting, smart-playmaking guard Philadelphia has always needed next to Simmons and Embiid.

Of course, Milton’s NBA success has come in a worryingly small sample, and it’s not uncommon for players to cool off after four months away from the game. There’s a chance Milton’s shooting falls back to earth, and he will need to prove he’s valuable enough in other areas of the game.

He’s a very smart playmaker, but Milton doesn’t have the burst or twitch typically associated with the point guard position. He’s not someone who’s comfortable isolating and creating his offense. He infamously struggled to create separation and playmake for others as Philadelphia’s lead guard in Summer League 2019.

If Milton is scorching the nets from deep, can he truly step into a lead guard role and provide starting-quality minutes? It’s yet to be seen. The mere presence of another shooter and ball-mover should unclog the Sixers’ halfcourt offense, and Milton has proven his comfort as a pick-and-roll ball-handler in the past. But if he struggles for any reason, there are other noteworthy options on the roster — Horford, Alec Burks, Glenn Robinson, etc.

He will need to earn his keep as Philadelphia’s lead guard. I’m of the opinion he can and will. Milton was a stud in the weeks prior to the hiatus, and it’s rare for someone to play as well as he did and then drop off the map. But still, the small sample deserves mention. Today, we finally lay eyes on ‘Shake the Starter.’