How De'Anthony Melton's Return Helps Sixers' Possible Postseason Run

De'Anthony Melton is back for the Philadelphia 76ers at the right time.

Apr 9, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard De'Anthony Melton (8) stands / Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

With the end of the NBA season falling less than a week away, it has become critical for the Philadelphia 76ers, who have been slammed by injuries throughout the season, to get as many players back as possible.

This focus could be seen in the Sixers’ squad over the past week and a half, as reigning MVP Joel Embiid made his return to the court following a 27-game stint on injury report after he injured his meniscus earlier on in the season.

Since making his return against the Oklahoma City Thunder in early April, Philadelphia has yet to drop a game, with the reigning MVP only sitting out of one matchup, averaging 30 points on 51 percent shooting, along with eight rebounds per game in his return.

Against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night, the Sixers welcomed back another player who has been plagued by injuries this season: De’Anthony Melton.

Melton had a rather average first half of the season, averaging 11 points while dishing out three assists going into his first long-term tenure on the bench, which was due to an issue in his back, which would keep him out for close to a month and a half.

The 25-year-old made a short return in mid-February but would find himself back on the bench following an early exit against the Boston Celtics, leaving the match due to back spasms.

Following this departure, the former USC guard would stay on the bench for an additional 21 games, before making his return against the Pistons, where he’d drop five points, while securing three rebounds for his team.

With Melton appearing to be in good health as the match came to a close, it appears that the 25-year-old may be back in the rotation for Nick Nurse to use, how can it help the Sixers ahead of the playoffs?

An easy answer to the question would be that Melton provides Nurse and Philadelphia with additional depth in both the guard and forward departments, but there is a deeper answer available.

It’s no secret that offense isn’t exactly Melton’s strong suit, as he has become more known for his work on the defensive end, which could be seen in his return against the Pistons, recording two steals in the match.

Looking further into it, the 25-year-old sits within the top 95th percentile for steal percentage, according to Cleaning The Glass, which puts him alongside defensive players such as Alex Caruso.

This impact on the Sixers’ defensive rating can be seen as well, given that during the first three months of the season Philadelphia placed within the top ten teams for the metric. Yet, following Melton’s injury, the Sixers found themselves down towards the lower half of the table, tied for the 21st-highest defensive rating.

Given that the Sixers could potentially have to play some of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, who sit within the top rankings for scoring, Melton’s defensive ability will be vital for their postseason success.