The Philadelphia 76ers are 12-9 this season and sit five games behind the Boston Celtics in the Atlantic Division. Coach Doc Rivers has the team playing well as of late, winning seven of their last nine games. They are winning games despite not having their strongest line-up available for a big portion of the season. All three of their best players have missed meaningful portions of the season so far.MVP candidate Joel Embiid recently returned to the team after missing four games with a left foot sprain. The team has also been without guards Tyrese Maxey and James Harden. There is good news in regard to the return of Harden. Per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Harden could be returning to the line-up soon for the Sixers.𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣’ 𝙉𝘽𝘼@_Talkin_NBAJames Harden could return in the 'next couple of weeks' per @TimBontemps Bontemps suggested that Harden could return on the Sixers' upcoming 3-game road trip.8615James Harden could return in the 'next couple of weeks' per @TimBontemps Bontemps suggested that Harden could return on the Sixers' upcoming 3-game road trip. https://t.co/QGa5aHhugOHarden has been out since November 4th with a strained foot and was expected to miss four to five weeks. He is expected to return within the next few weeks per Bontemps and could return as early as sometime during the team’s upcoming three-game road trip.James Harden's return could ease some of the scoring load off Embiid. It will help a Philadelphia 76ers roster that will be without Maxey, who is expected to miss three to four weeks with a fracture in his left foot. Harden could give the line-up an immediate boost as a playmaker. In the nine games he has played this season, he averaged 10.0 assists per game. Harden will need to return to star form if the Sixers want to improve their position in the Eastern Conference standings.The rise of Shake MiltonWith the Philadelphia 76ers being without their three best players, the team has had to look to other players to fill the voids that were created by injuries. One player that has stood out has been guard Shake Milton. The 6-foot-5 guard from SMU gave the team a playmaker who could also score.Hoop Central@TheHoopCentralShake Milton’s last 6 games:27 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST, 66% FG16 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST, 50% FG22 PTS, 7 REB, 9 AST, 56% FG24 PTS, 9 REB, 10 AST, 54% FG29 PTS, 5 REB, 7 AST, 77% FG21 PTS, 5 REB, 7 AST, 45% FG2411200Shake Milton’s last 6 games:27 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST, 66% FG16 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST, 50% FG22 PTS, 7 REB, 9 AST, 56% FG24 PTS, 9 REB, 10 AST, 54% FG29 PTS, 5 REB, 7 AST, 77% FG21 PTS, 5 REB, 7 AST, 45% FG https://t.co/niC29xbJAZMilton has been a solid reserve for the team, averaging 11.4ppg over the course of this season. With Maxey and Harden out, he has shown he can be a reliable replacement in the backcourt for the Philadelphia 76ers. Over the last five games, Milton has averaged 22.4ppg, 7.6apg and 6.4rpg for the Sixers.Although Harden is due to return soon to the Sixers line-up, Maxey will still be out for a while. Milton will still need to fill in the gaps until the team’s other star returns. The Philadelphia 76ers may have found another player to help the team get over the hump and get past the Eastern Conference Semifinals.