The past few weeks have not been easy for the Philadelphia 76ers. Between health and safety protocols and injuries, they were forced to play with a depleted roster. Their fortunes have changed recently, as players have made their return to action. Monday's matchup against the Orlando Magic was the first time in nearly a month Sixers coach Doc Rivers had a full rotation at his disposal.
Since he arrived, Rivers has been abundantly clear on his stance regarding the rotation. He has no set number and he is not afraid to get deep into the bench on a nightly basis. Even with the lineup being fully healthy now, one player should find himself on the outside looking in for the time being.
Early in the season, Furkan Korkmaz was one of the biggest surprises for the Sixers. Not only was he posting a career-high in points, but he was also showing flashes as a playmaker. His experiment at backup point guard when Shake Milton was injured went much smoother than many had anticipated.
Unfortunately for Korkmaz, their recent stretch has not been kind to him. The 24-year-old has found himself in the midst of a rough, cold spell that has caused a steep drop in his production.
Over his last nine games, Korkmaz only broke double-figures in scoring once. In the same span, he shot an abysmal 26.5 percent from the field and 22.4 percent from beyond the arc. Korkmaz's three-point percentage on the season has also gone down to 32.1 percent, almost five points below the league average.
Korkmaz has shown he can catch fire off the Sixers bench at times. The only issue is, he doesn't provide much on the floor when his shots aren't falling. While he has improved as a facilitator, it is not enough to keep him out there when he is not posing a threat to score.
For the time being, Rivers should strongly consider removing Korkmaz for the rotation. He might benefit from a couple of nights off. With Danny Green, Matisse Thybulle, and Isaiah Joe all available, Rivers has more than enough wing depth at his disposal.
Whether it was playing longer minutes, the wrist injury that cost him one game, or both, something has gotten to Korkmaz. He continues to get looks he is accustomed to seeing, but the shots aren't falling. Giving Thybulle or Joe some added minutes, for the time being, could be beneficial for Korkmaz and the Sixers in the long run.
Rivers has always been high on Korkmaz, so it feels unlikely he removes him from his rotation. He understands shooters go through dry spells and will continue to ride it out. That being said, if this poor shooting continues any longer, Korkmaz might find himself sliding down the Sixers bench.
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