Lineup tweak off to a shaky start
The Shake Milton Experience at point guard might require more seasoning than the Sixers expected.
In his first game as the formal No. 1 point man, rather than as fill-in for an injured player, Milton was overwhelmed Saturday in a 127-121 loss to the Indiana Pacers. He played just 19 minutes and missed his only shot, committing three turnovers and five personal fouls.
His defense so spotty, Milton was confronted by Joel Embiid between the first and second quarters in what appeared to be a mildly heated argument.
“It happens everywhere,” Embiid said. “We discuss what’s going on and we move on. It happens on every team and you just figure it out.”
In just 10:42 of the first half, Milton had three fouls, three turnovers and did not attempt a shot.
A day earlier, coach Brett Brown expressed some concern that the Pacers would try to pressure Milton. He was particularly worrieed about noted full-court defensive pest T.J. McConnell, the former Sixer.
McConnell attacked
Milton early, at one point stripping him of the ball in the open court, leading to an Indiana score.
Though Milton had started 16 games, that was as a replacement for either the injured Josh Richardson or Ben Simmons. The Sixers made a much publicized decision to formally shift Simmons to the frontcourt during their recent re-start training camp, with Brown committing to Milton at the point.
Afterward, Brown did not sound ready to scrap the experiment.
“He got scored on pretty quickly and we had a discussion about pick-androll defense,” Brown said. “I think he chased, for the most part, the whole game. I think it was borne out of frustration.”
Brown was not necessarily disturbed that Embiid confronted Milton.
“If the conversation has to be had, it’s going to be had,” he said. “And I actually think stuff like that is far more healthy than anything. Shake’s teammates love Shake Milton. They are proud of his evolution.
“Shake and Joel are good friends. Sometimes stuff like that happens in a family.”