The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Rivers determined not to Shake up preferred lineup
PHILADELPHIA >> The Sixers lost one starter to injury, then another, then another, and that would lead to one of the most sought-after prizes in sports. For somebody, it would be an opportunity.
That somebody turned out to be Shake Milton, who had rung up 28, 24, 22, 16 and 27 points in the five games heading into a Monday night visit from the Atlanta Hawks. Given that outburst — and with the Sixers having won three of those five games — might Milton have found an avenue to a spot in Doc Rivers’ preferred starting lineup, the one he has committed to whenever his team has been at full health?
“So you want us to play him ahead of James (Harden) or
Tyrese (Maxey)?” Rivers said before a 104-101 victory. “Just curious.”
With Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris, Harden and Maxey will start when healthy. But in those five games where Milton went for 117 points, P.J. Tucker went for 0, 0, 3, 0 and 0. Monday? More of the same, as Milton would go for 21 while Tucker would manage to play 28 minutes and not attempt a shot.
Different roles, different positions. But Milton has a seven-foot wingspan, and Rivers has often started Embiid and Harris with two guards and a long wing. But he could not have been more clear Monday: When healthy, Tucker will start.
“There will be lineups when we have three guards,” Rivers said. “But the one thing I’ll say about P.J. — because I feel lately that P.J. has become the whipping boy — is, ‘Who do you is our highest plusminus guy on our team?’ It’s P.J. So there’s your answer right there.”
After missing four games with an injured foot, Embiid returned Monday, and joined a starting lineup with Harris, Tucker, Milton and De’Anthony Melton.
“A guy can always win (a lineup spot),” Rivers said. “I’m an extremely fair coach. But I think what people do is look at points. That’s all they focus on. But I’ll go back to the Milwaukee game (a recent 110-102 victory). Without P.J., we probably wouldn’t have won that game.
“This is not just an offensive game. Guys have to play roles and guys have to fit.”
With Harden and Maxey still not ready to return, that will mean more opportunities for Milton.
“He is a scorer at heart,” Harris said. “He’s opening things up for himself and everybody else on the floor.”
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Embiid made a loud return, scoring 30 points, including the Sixers’ final dozen.
“I thought he was good,” Rivers said. “Early on, he was almost trying too hard to get everybody involved. But we want him to get involved too. As the game went on, I think he warmed up to that.”
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Eagles coach Nick Sirianni recently contacted Rivers for a coaching skull session. High among Rivers’ tips was to discuss players’ roles in front of the whole team, not in private.
“I’ve learned that individual role sessions don’t go as well, because I can tell a player one thing, then he can go out and say, ‘He told me to shoot it every time.’ And that’s not what was said,” Rivers said. “So it’s a lot more clear when it is in front of one another. And when a guy doesn’t do it, it’s easier for you to say, ‘Do your role.’”
Sirianni is known to have followed that advice, gathering a team full of witnesses before assigning roles.
“He’s fantastic,” Rivers said.
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Harden missed his 12th consecutive game, and Rivers offered no timetable for a return. But the original outline was for Harden to miss about a month, so he should be nearing a return.
Maxey has missed the last six games.
“I know James in on the floor working,” Rivers said. “I know that much. I don’t think Tyrese is.”
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NOTES >> After missing three games with an ankle problem, Matisse Thybulle played 7:34 and scored four points. … On the second night of a back-to-back, Rivers ordered more zone defense than usual. Harris: “It was tough. But it was just showing a different scheme.” … The Sixers will visit the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday night at 7.