Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown says second-year point guard Markelle Fultz will start during the regular season, but hinted the former No. 1 overall pick could come off the bench during second halves. Fultz started in the Sixers’ preseason finale against the Dallas Mavericks, but was replaced by J.J. Redick in the starting lineup to start the third quarter.
“It didn't have anything to do with Markelle being in foul trouble,” Brown said, via Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com. “Part of my responsibility is to be able to put these guys in environments with different combinations and try to figure that out as quickly as I'm able.
“I believe that Markelle is at his best with the ball, and so when you watch how I substitute and determine patterns, when you bring him off the bench in the second half you're able to get him like four or five more minutes as a point guard. I believe it's something that we'll continue to look at. Again, it was done for that reason.”
Fultz averaged 9.0 points per game while shooting 43.2 percent from the field in the preseason. His jump shot was much more fluid compared to last season. Fultz was sidelined most of last year due to scapular muscle imbalance in his right shoulder, and only played in 14 games.
Fultz’s trainer, Drew Hanlen, said earlier in the offseason that the 20-year-old had the case of the yips, which played a big part in his unorthodox shooting mechanics last season. Hanlen worked hard with Markelle Fultz all summer to help the guard get his shot back in order. The early returns are very positive.
If Brown sticks to his word, Fultz will join Ben Simmons, Robert Covington, Dario Saric, and Joel Embiid in the Sixers' starting lineup.
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