3. Markelle Fultz looks good at everything except shooting
Fultz did better than expected last night, overcoming some early jitters en route to a solid 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting off the bench. He only played 18 minutes to Jerryd Bayless‘ 28, but that gap should decrease as the season moves along and Fultz gets more comfortable in Brett Brown’s offense.
Of all the positives Fultz showed last night, none of them were with his shot. His free throw shooting still looks bad, while he didn’t take an single shot from deep after attempting five per game in college. He’s not confident at all when it comes to shooting, and that’s an issue the coaching staff will need to continue working on.
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The rest of his game, though, looks great. He’s still shifty with the ball in his hands and gets to the rim with ease. He’ll need to work on his timing and finishing through more athletic bodies, but his touch and confidence seem to improve when he’s in attack mode.
Fultz’s passing also shined, something he didn’t get enough credit for at Washington. He has always been an exceptional playmaker out of the pick-and-roll, and that ability to get into the teeth of the defense and pinpoint passes back out to the perimeter or hit the rolling big will add another dynamic once he’s able to share the court with Embiid and Simmons on a regular basis.
There’s a lot to learn for Fultz, but he was the No. 1 pick for a reason. Be patient.