The Sixers have yet to narrow down a return timeline for rookie Markelle Fultz but that doesn’t mean they don’t still have big plans for him in the future, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes.
“The design of our team was […] with him in mind and Ben Simmons in mind,” Sixers head coach Brett Brown said, “And then you have a bunch of Danny Greens. You do, you have a bunch of receivers.”
Limited to just four games prior to a mysterious shoulder injury, Fultz didn’t have much time to make a positive impression. While his 6.0 points per game leave much to be desired, Pompey reiterates that the guard was drafted to be a complete offensive weapon for the Sixers.
“I feel like, when you see in doses [Fultz] play, you are reminded of what he was brought in to do,” Brown said. Fultz recently started scrimmaging with the Sixers.
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Knicks are embroiled in a tough stretch and much of that may have to do with star forward Kristaps Porzingis wearing down. “I’m tired. I’m so tired right now,” Porzingis told Ian Begley of ESPN after the second game of a back-to-back. “I have one day now to rest my legs and then get back and play better and have more energy and also try and bring the team’s energy up.“
- He may not have broken any records in his Barclays Debut but Jahlil Okafor filled a role admirably for the Nets on Wednesday. “He was solid, understood what we do, what we’re doing,” head coach Kenny Atkinson told Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “It’s just going to take him time. He really understood our system, and was in the right place.“
- Notice something different about Knicks sophomore Ron Baker last night? The guard took the floor with a protective mask, as Al Iannazzone of Newsday wrote prior to the contest. The point guard admirably, but unsuccessfully, set out to contest an Anthony Davis dunk on Saturday night and paid the price.
Big fan of porzingis but dude is 7’3 averaging less then 7 boards a game and is gassed. Gunna have to condition and grow into his body a little more and he could be elite
No reason Kevin love with similar strength 5 inches shorter can average more than twice in their same 3rd year in the league
Or lose a little weight and transition to a 2 guard. Who could guard him at that position? No one. Think about it. A 7’3 shooting guard.
what
Try again
This is why the internet forums don’t make decisions
Why
Give the Unicorn time to fill out. He is still 22 years old. He is Knicks future.
KP suffers from a condition which makes him very fatigued. This dude can’t carry the Knicks, Tim where are you?
Welcome to the problem with the new NBA. These bigs shooting all these jumpers a game are going to get gassed. Go sit in the block, relax, grab some boards, and get easy buckets. Yes they are going to get pushed around but that’s the name of the game. I miss the 90’s and I’m only thirty lol.
You think shooting jump shots is more tiring than slamming around in the paint?
Seriously, instead of shooting an uncontested jumper, send your big men into the paint against Whitesides and Drummonds and Howards. Much better than shooting a jump shot
Last time I checked my legs do my walking so yes. And congrats. You named three tall players. And Drummond weighs how much? Watch the three point contest. These guards get tired after shooting 15 uncontested threes and they aren’t seven feet tall running the floor. All I’m saying is get used to this. There’s four other players on your team that can shoot it from deep. Let the big man clean up.
The point is you’re complaining about the game evolving. Bigs have been skilled for a long time and haven’t been able to showcase their games until this era of pace and space. Guards and forwards can rebound now. Russell Westbrook literally averaged a triple double. KD is basically 7 ft tall and one of the best scorers in NBA history. Jokic wouldn’t even be in the NBA if he wasn’t allowed to play how he plays. You miss the 90s, I don’t. Basketball has always been a game of skill and shooting, if you wanna watch people bang into each other you should watch football.
I do watch football. I watch and played a variety of sports. You call it evolving ok. But when these big shooters get tired, the bench big comes in and what if it’s Noah? You have to change or sorry, evolve your entire game plan when he comes in off the bench? I’m not the only one that misses the nineties and you aren’t the only one that doesn’t. I just don’t like my five players on the floor all trying to jack up threes. But it’s a percentage game and if that’s what I’m facing then I’m happy. Defense will win every time.
If you’re saying having to play Noah is an excuse for not letting Porzingis shoot (literally his game since his predraft workout videos came out), that’s a terrible argument. They have Hernangomez who can play in an instant as well as Kyle O’Quinn and Enes Kanter. You can’t tell a 3pt shooting 7 footer he can’t shoot because he’ll get tired and they’ll have to play the guy they paid $72 million. He should get better at conditioning. That’s it.
And if you miss the 90s so much, shouldn’t you be happy when Noah comes into the game?? He bangs in the post, can’t shoot for his life, and is your prototypical “big man” right??
I was making the case that the evolution ends when the big shooter can’t play because he’s too tired. And I never said that he shouldn’t shoot. He wants to shoot then go for it. Just don’t get upset when he’s tired from shooting 20% and you have to bench your star player. Percentages. They win games.
i WaS mAkInG tHe CaSe ThAt ThE eVoLuTiOn EnDs sure you were. Last I checked your argument was I miss the 90s, why is this guy shooting, go get a rebound. Knicks. They don’t win games.
Another reason I miss the nineties.
I agree with Brad here I do miss watching guys like Shaq take over a game and watching guys hustle and rebound. Also defense is a nice thing and guys like Harden don’t play it which puts so much more work on the other guys. I like the three point game but not when it’s all you do and you jack up a million threes. Smaller guys like Westbrook should not have double digit rebounds even with a motor like his. Not taking anything away from Westbrook because he is a phenomenal player but the boards should be from the bigs who box out and it just try to out jump everyone.