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5 keys to Philadelphia 76ers final PS game versus Miami Heat

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 04: Robert Covington #33, Ben Simmons #25, and Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers play against the Memphis Grizzlies during the preseason game at the Wells Fargo Center on October 4, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 04: Robert Covington #33, Ben Simmons #25, and Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers play against the Memphis Grizzlies during the preseason game at the Wells Fargo Center on October 4, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 04: Markelle Fultz
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 04: Markelle Fultz

I. Watch how the 76ers rotate the backcourt.

Okay, the Philadelphia 76ers still have some matters to resolve and we are heading into our last game of the preseason. Don’t fret, as every NBA team is likely dealing with their own set of issues to tweak and iron out as the regular season approaches.  First and foremost on the list is how to set up the backcourt rotations.

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We know that the future of the franchise will likely be entrusted to the pairing of Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz. But for now, Simmons is still new and unvalued, and Fultz is young and inexperienced.  So that create quite a predicament for the team heading into the season.

Department of Redundancy Department

Ah, but that is where the GM cap goes on, right? I mean after all, we have a solid amount of depth on the team right now. Behind Fultz, we have Jerryd Bayless and T.J. McConnell and even Nik Stauskas.  Behind Ben Simmons (PG offense) we have Jerryd Bayless and T.J. McConnell and even Nik Stauskas. Wait? Is this some necromancy? How can the same set back up two different players?

Well Simmons is the offensive point guard, but defensively, he’s a forward. To talk shooting guards, you start with J.J. Redick. Behind him you have Stauskas, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, and Furkan Korkmaz. In fact, the wing position may be stronger than you realize this season.

Fultz does not need to start game one to succeed

Markelle Fultz has a sore shoulder, a sore knee, and a twitchy new shot mechanic that is the talk of the town.  That’s a tall order of issues to resolve for a 19 year-old rookie trying to learn the game of NBA basketball as well.  I say the team let’s him come in off the bench as he adapts to the league.  This is a young man who will play at a very high level. But throwing him into the deep end of the pool is no way to test his swimming endurance. Let him learn at his pace. Make him hungry for more minutes, not overwhelmed by too many minutes.  The most important training for Fultz is how to train.  Less minutes now means better training habits.

So who fills his spot in the meantime. Keep an eye on who is on the court, especially when Simmons is out there. Those lineups may see plenty of action in the early part of this season. While Bayless is the odds on favorite to start in place of Simmons, don’t ignore just how good T.J. McConnell is with this team. On one hand, he is a sparkplug which actually resonates with Embiid, Saric, and other bigs.  On the other hand, he had a solid showing against Brooklyn.  Ultimately, he can make things interesting if he repeats against the Miami Heat Friday night.