Sixers quarter-season report cards: Every player’s grade

Sixers report cards: Backcourt reserves

Shake Milton has been freakin’ unbelievable since Maxey went down. He looks the part of a starting point guard and lead playmaker for an above-.500 basketball team. Now, the question is: can he maintain his current level of aggression and productivity in smaller doses without getting in the way of Philly’s stars?

Another player for whom the complaints are minimal. De’Anthony Melton is currently marred in a mini-slump but he’s shooting 35.7 percent from deep for the season on healthy volume. His floor-spacing and connective playmaking on offense, combined with league-best pickpocket skills, should put Melton firmly on the Sixth Man of the Year radar.

Matisse Thybulle had one job coming into the season: prove he can hit open spot-up 3s. He’s currently shooting 21.7 percent from 3-point range and the Sixers no longer lack perimeter depth, which makes Thybulle exceedingly expendable ahead of the February trade deadline.

Furkan Korkmaz is a lot of fun in small doses. His movement shooting and brave passing chops can often liven the second unit’s offense, especially when the Sixers are trying to stay afloat sans Harden and Maxey. That said, once everyone’s healthy Korkmaz will be relegated to garbage time duty.

I still believe. But…

Welcome to class. I mean, the team.