For the first time since May 9, the Sixers will play NBA opposition.
After a 104-84 win over Melbourne United in Friday’s preseason opener, the Sixers play the Orlando Magic on Monday night at Wells Fargo Center.
Here are a few storylines to watch:
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• After knocking down two free throws and a 17-footer jumper against Melbourne, what’s next for Markelle Fultz and his brand new jump shot?
With Fultz’s confidence the highest it’s been since he joined the Sixers, don’t be surprised to see him expand his range against the Magic. Though there were a couple moments Friday when Fultz turned down open shots in favor of penetrating or passing, his willingness to shoot was obviously at a different level to where it was last season.
He said the home crowd played a key part in that.
“It was almost like a dream, going out there and having the crowd cheer your name and everything,” Fultz said Sunday. “It was kind of like last year when I first came back, everybody screaming my name. It just made me more comfortable. Coming out, I was confident, but when you hear that crowd behind you it gives you a little boost of more confidence and it just made it a little easier.”
NBA
• Especially with Wilson Chandler and Jerryd Bayless sidelined, there’s not a ton of clarity yet on the Sixers’ rotation (see story). Brown admitted as much Sunday; what’s most important to him is eventually nailing down combinations that click.
“It’s going to take some time,” Brown said. “Usually I anoint the first third of a year to give me greater clarity of what’s going to take place probably for the rest of the season, how you’re going to play this team. … You’re going to learn things along the path, but if you’re really talking about how do you get ready to play playoff basketball or legitimate basketball, it’s going to take all the first third to really get the nuances and the detail down.”
• Brown’s decision to have Fultz take JJ Redick’s spot in the starting lineup is a move with a lot of data behind it, but also one supported more by optimism about what Ben Simmons and Fultz can do together and the projection that Redick can excel in a sixth-man role than any sort of proven track record.
To Redick’s credit, he understands the numbers behind the move, and has actually played a significant part in tinkering with the way the Sixers stagger his minutes (see story). He played the final seven minutes of each period Friday (besides the fourth quarter, when the regular rotation rested), which is how Brown and the Spurs used Manu Ginobili.
• You can always count on Ben Simmons to stuff the stat sheet, and he delivered against Melbourne — 8 points, 8 rebounds, 14 assists.
But Simmons didn’t attempt any free throws, or any shots outside of the paint, for that matter. Given how much he lives in the paint, Simmons should be capable of getting to the foul line more than last season, when he averaged 4.2 free throw attempts per game.
After a summer spent tinkering with his shot with his brother Liam (see story), he’s been working on his foul shooting after practice. He’s clearly emphasizing keeping his elbow under the ball, keeping the ball on the left side of his body, and having a deliberate follow-through. We should get to see those tweaks to Simmons’ free throws in game action soon enough.
Ben Simmons working at the foul line after practice. No attempts in first preseason game. pic.twitter.com/wFvgBHXhRw
Here are the essentials for Monday’s matchup. The Sixers are sticking with the starting five of Fultz, Simmons, Dario Saric, Joel Embiid and Robert Covington.
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Wells Fargo Center
Broadcast: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Live stream: NBCSportsPhiladelphia.com
Roster
Jerryd Bayless, G, 6-3/210, No. 0
Jonah Bolden, F, 6-10/220, No. 43
Anthony Brown, G/F, 6-7/225, No. 14
Wilson Chandler, F, 6-9/225, No. 22
Robert Covington, F, 6-9/225, No. 33
Joel Embiid, C, 7-0/260, No. 21
Markelle Fultz, G, 6-4/200, No. 20
Demetrius Jackson, G, 6-1/200, No. 11
Amir Johnson, F/C, 6-9/240, No. 5
Furkan Korkmaz, G/F, 6-7/185, No. 30
T.J. McConnell, G, 6-2/190, No. 12
Shake Milton, G, 6-6/205, No. 18
Mike Muscala, F/C, 6-11/240, No. 31
Emeka Okafor, C, 6-10/255, No. 50
Norvel Pelle, C, 6-11/215, No. 1
JJ Redick, G, 6-4/195, No. 17
Dario Saric, F, 6-10/250, No. 9
Landry Shamet, G, 6-5/190, No. 23
Ben Simmons, G/F, 6-10/230, No. 25
Zhaire Smith, G, 6-4/200, No. 8