The Sixer Sense
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Sixers mailbag: Brett Brown shouldn’t be on the hot seat

By Christopher Kline

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 27: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to head coach Brett Brown during a timeout against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 27, 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 - NOVEMBER 27: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to head coach Brett Brown during a timeout against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 27, 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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Is Markelle Fultz back to normal?

At this point, we don’t really know where Fultz’s shot is at. Unless you’re in the training facility daily, there isn’t anybody outside of the coaching and training staff with intimate knowledge of how Fultz’s shot is progressing.

We do, however, know that the pain and muscular imbalance in his shoulder is gone. That means, assuming there aren’t any setbacks, he should be fully capable of returing to the form we saw at Washington — a form that was obviously extremely effective.

Even without a jumper, Fultz showed some promising stuff during the preseason and during his first four games. His crafty ball handling allowed him to get into the lane at will, even without posing any sort of threat from deep. That ability to get penetration, as well as the vision he showed as a playmaker, should allow him to be a productive NBA player in some capacity — regardless of how often his jumper is falling.

Must Read: Sixers are slowly depleting their assets

Fultz’s dribble pull-up game was what took his game to the next level in college, though, and it could add a different dynamic that the Sixers’ offense desperately needs. They don’t have anyone outside of Simmons, Embiid and T.J. McConnell who can create their own offense, and McConnell isn’t much of a shot-creator himself.

If Fultz can consistently knock down threes and pose a viable threat at all three levels, he could help elevate Brett Brown’s offense in a way even Ben Simmons can’t. When he’ll get to that point, we don’t exactly know.