Shake Milton hasn’t played much since he’s arrived in New York. Should he have a bigger role in the Knicks’s rotation?
Recently, G Shake Milton signed with the Knicks after reaching a buyout with the Pistons. Milton seemed to be a solid pickup that can provide an offensive spark off the bench. Oddly enough, Milton has rarely seen the floor since his arrival, only appearing at the end of a blowout loss against the Hawks last week and a blowout win against the 76ers this past Tuesday. Thankfully, O.G Anunoby has returned to the lineup but the Knicks are still not at full strength,which heightens the need for a player like Milton. Also, due to the fact that the playoffs are around the corner, this would be the time to give Milton an opportunity to show what he’s got, especially with the scoring struggles the Knicks have had off the bench as of late.
The Burks Replacement
Unfortunately, Alec Burks has continued to play poorly for this Knicks team. He has not been the scorer that the Knicks needed him to be and will probably fall out of the rotation if his struggles continue.Preferably, Milton should replace Burk’s at the back two guard. Previously, Knicks fans have given their opinion on this and they feel like it’s time to give Milton a shot as well.
In the past, Milton has shown that he can be an effective scorer off the bench. His best season as a pro was during the 2020-2021 season as a member of the 76ers, which was just a few years ago. Milton averaged 13 PPG and 3.1APG while also shooting 45% from the field and 35 % from the three point line.
Milton also has played some meaningful minutes in the postseason during his time with the 76ers, which is something that can benefit the Knicks in the near future. In the end, Milton might be the better option coming off the bench for the Knicks moving forward. The quicker Coach Thibodeau realizes that and starts giving him minutes the better it will be for the team as the postseason approaches.
The Plan
The Eastern Conference is in an absolute dog fight for seeding and the Knicks need all the help they can get to stay afloat. They are barely hanging on to the 4th seed and need to keep winning from here on out. The bench production will be key to making this happen, which is why the Knicks need to see what they have with Milton. If I’m Coach Thibodeau, I would give Burk’s minutes to Milton for the next few games. Let’s see what he can bring to the table while playing with this bench unit. The Knicks will be on a West Coast road trip for the next week, playing against playoff teams like the Kings and Nuggets.
Milton’s performances in these next few games should determine how much he should be involved in the rotation. Even though it’s late in the season and you don’t want to switch things around too much, seeing what Milton can potentially do for this team is something that Coach Thibodeau should consider. Hopefully, he does give Milton a chance to prove himself. Only time will tell.
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