Philadelphia 76ers: 5 things to watch for in the 2018 preseason
By AJ Iezzi
The Sixers are finally a focal point of the NBA’s attention. People are grasping the magnitude of this team. The expectations are also accompanied by questions.
The Philadelphia 76ers open their preseason schedule against Melbourne United tonight, Sept. 28, at 7 PM E.T. Here are five things to watch for as basketball gets underway.
How comfortable is Markelle Fultz?
The prodigal son has returned with a jumper! Markelle Fultz appears to be inching closer to the No. 1 overall pick he once was. All signs are pointing towards Markelle Fultz getting a large chunk of minutes from the get-go.
Fultz is shaping up to be the primary ball handler behind Ben Simmons. There’s finally footage of his jumper and it appears to be functional. Fultz seems to be confident in himself and his shot, which is paramount for his success this season. The Sixers’ coaching staff needs to equate for Fultz’s strengths and weaknesses with his teammates on the floor.
Brett Brown has already gone on record saying they will incorporate more pick-and-rolls to play to Fultz’s strengths. On-ball screens will give Markelle Fultz opportunities to attack downhill and drive and kick.
He showed his ability to do so last season, but the biggest thing to watch for is Fultz’s willingness to shoot the ball. Anybody can shoot in an open gym. Fultz’s staunch work ethic shouldn’t be undermined. He worked around the clock to fix his broken jump shot, but his on-court performance is what will become the headline.
Fultz’s confidence shooting the ball will say more than his field goal percentage. I’d rather see Markelle Fultz shoot 10 threes and make 3, than watch him shoot three and make one.
The preseason is the perfect time for Markelle Fultz to let it fly, and find his killer instinct once again.