With their stars on the mend, the Philadelphia 76ers must rely on depth

Injuries disrupt progression, especially in professional sports. Rehabilitation requires time – a valuable asset for competitive organizations. A turn in the plot doesn’t stop the show from continuing. In Philadelphia, Doc Rivers’ staff works diligently to prepare the Philadelphia 76ers for upcoming games without their rising guard.

Tyrese Maxey is a vital part of the Sixers, but he will watch the next few games from the sideline. A fracture in his left foot will cause the third-year guard to miss three to four weeks according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojanoski. An increase in minutes allowed Maxey to shine on the hardwood leading up to his injury. No.0 served as the second-leading scorer on the team (22.0) – providing clutch buckets for the 76ers struggling offense.

An 8-8 start to the new campaign is not what fans expected from a promising roster. Re-signing James Harden this off-season fed hope to supporters, who expected the beard to find his rhythm in his second year. Three consecutive losses at the beginning of the season worried analysts, but then Maxey appeared. His 44-point outing against the Chicago Bulls energized his teammates and helped the 76ers roll to a three-game winning streak.

Will the Philadelphia 76ers’ Shake Milton step in for Tyrese Maxey while he recovers from an injury?

Without Maxey on the court, Philadelphia must find an alternative option for point production. Joel Embiid is ranked second in points per game (32.3), but he cannot outscore opponents on his own. Assistance from James Harden is not an option due to a tendon strain suffered against the Wizards a few weeks ago. Contributions from De’Anthony Melton will help the Sixers coast through the next few weeks until Harden’s return, but Philadelphia will need extra assistance to advance in the conference standings.

Doc Rivers’ faith in Shake Milton earned the fifth-year guard more minutes amid an injury wave. On Friday, he scored 15 points while shooting 50 percent from the field to help Philadelphia steal a conference win over Milwaukee. A 27-point outing in a loss against the Timberwolves on Saturday proved Milton will produce during his teammates’ absence. No. 18 finished with 27 points and six rebounds, shooting 60% from three-point range.

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Efficient shooting will help the Sixers survive against opponents without their stars in the lineup. Shake Milton has a reputation for being a sharpshooter – maintaining a thirty-six 3-point percentage throughout his career. Without Maxey or Harden, we can assume that No.18 will take most of the three-point attempts.

Depth in the roster will help Philadelphia float above water until their superstars return to action. Harden and Maxey will miss consecutive weeks – allowing Milton more time to acclimate himself to the starting lineup.

An impressive stretch of wins will help the Philadelphia 76ers edge out the competition in the conference early, creating the perfect return for the Sixers’ guards.