2. Korkmaz… what’s up?
It’s difficult to take anything of note away from this game, especially from a rotational standpoint. The Sixers’ rotation was all over the place, players were afforded atypically long leashes, and 90 percent of the five-man groups we saw will never see the floor together again.
That said, Furkan Korkmaz’s uninspiring play in the bubble continued on Tuesday. He scored 12 points on 3-for-7 shooting from deep — possibly his best game in Orlando so far — but he missed his other four shots from the field and turned in another bumpy defensive performance.
The Sixers haven’t gotten much out of Korkmaz since arriving in Orlando. Alec Burks has essentially supplanted him in the rotation, Matisse Thybulle has carved out a bigger role, and now Korkmaz has further competition for minutes in the form of Glenn Robinson III.
Robinson checked into the game before Korkmaz. And while Korkmaz ended up playing 31 minutes to Robinson’s 25, it was Robinson — 15 points on 3-for-6 shooting from deep — who looked better, even if his efforts to contain Devin Booker were often in vein. He did, however, get the Booker assignment on defense. Korkmaz did not.
If the Sixers don’t get more out of Korkmaz in the final two seeding games, it’s may cast doubt over his role in the postseason. I’ve long advocated for more Robinson minutes. He’s a better defender, a more well-rounded scorer, and frankly, a more establish NBA talent. He’s the better player — straight up.