Fultz Prediction

[JoshuaPotter]

Why are people still so hung up on him?

Because they're still playing him even though he's a free agent to be while not playing their 6th overall pick?

Ding ding ding

Fultz fans legit think we the crazy ones

Because even more delusional people think he has value that can be restored for a trade that isn't a 2nd round pick for cash considerations.

The one comment ill make is yes, in "theory" 1 minute left in the game and you can choose between Fultz and Black. You go Fultz. He has the "experience" aspect of the NBA.

But therein lies the problem. Experience is the last thing Black needs to be as good a player as current state Fultz.

I really hate to hate on a guy who likely has medical/therapy malpractice going on. This reminds me so much of the Nick Anderson situation where he forgot how to shoot free throws after the NBA finals.

[Fortune Teller]

Subtle insinuation? You ARE a crazy one if you are reading into this so personally.

I mean how else can it be read into?

The guy has attempted 3 three pointers on the season.

He gets asked a perfectly reasonable question about his shooting and his response isn't one really based in any sort of reality.

If anything, Markelle should get down on his knees and thank the lord that the team with the most flaccid media market in the league acquired him. He hasn't faced a genuinely tough question (despite there being many to be asked) in like four full years at this point

Imagine if he was playing for a team where the local press actually cared? Oh wait we saw it in Philadelphia already and it was a complete disaster.

Even this question was wrapped in cotton candy. The direct question is, "why have you only attempted three 3-pointers this season, and haven't attempted any since returning from your [ahem] knee tendinitis? Is there a physical issue that's keeping you from shooting threes?"

He'll say there's no physical issue, but put him on the record saying that. It's your job.

The Philly media is tough, and many of them didn't buy the TOS story. Orlando's media won't even ask, and Orlando's fans, for some reason, just seem willing to accept that's what's bothering him even though he's not even saying that. Unless I'm missing something, has a diagnosis of a TOS return been reported somewhere?

I'm no doctor, but in looking at the clip posted in this thread showing the hitch in-game, that doesn't look like a shoulder problem to me. That movement looks like something that would be harder on his shoulder than simply heaving it up in one motion with the benefit of your core and lower body. Waiting until you are coming back down to get the shot up seems like it would put a lot more pressure on your shoulders...right?!?

Beede's question wasn't as direct as it could have been, but even his choice of words -- confidence -- evoked something more mental than physical.

I just scratch my head every time I see a post talking about Markelle's current TOS as if it's a foregone conclusion, when I don't even think it was definitive in Philly.

[Audi]

But listen to what Markelle actually said.

He was asked if he was confident in his shooting. He said yes and acted like that was the most obvious answer in the world. Yet... he doesn't shoot. How can anyone be confident in something when they blatantly and obviously refuse to do it? It's just dishonest.

Again - what answer do you expect to this question when posed to any basketball player, ever? He could be missing fingers and the answer would be the same. It's just not making sense to me that you are taking this as if he's personally insulting you/us fans for giving a vanilla answer to a vanilla question. Of course he's not being completely honest. Why would he? He's using words to paint a narrative and has likely been coached on it. But this is literally how everyone operates. Every coach, every FO, every player. It shouldn't be shocking or insulting to you in the least.

[Bensational]

Why are people still so hung up on him?

Because they're still playing him even though he's a free agent to be while not playing their 6th overall pick?

Ding ding ding

Fultz fans legit think we the crazy ones

He has played 10 games and started 5. Black has played 38 and started 28.

Meanwhile we’ve got Harris as another FA to be and Howard in the G-League but nobody seems as pressed to clear room there.

It should be clear to anyone that the team is still figuring out what they’ve got and who they want to keep, and Fultz looks like he’s on the out and being shopped right now/forced minutes for rehab.

[Knightro]

He has played 10 games and started 5. Black has played 38 and started 28.

Meanwhile we’ve got Harris as another FA to be and Howard in the G-League but nobody seems as pressed to clear room there.

It should be clear to anyone that the team is still figuring out what they’ve got and who they want to keep, and Fultz looks like he’s on the out and being shopped right now/forced minutes for rehab.

This is a bit disingenuous out of you because when they're both healthy, Fultz plays and Black does not, which is what everyone is upset about. Not the fact that Black was fortunate enough to play when Fultz was hurt.

[JoshuaPotter]

Because they're still playing him even though he's a free agent to be while not playing their 6th overall pick?

Ding ding ding

Fultz fans legit think we the crazy ones

He has played 10 games and started 5. Black has played 38 and started 28.

Meanwhile we’ve got Harris as another FA to be and Howard in the G-League but nobody seems as pressed to clear room there.

It should be clear to anyone that the team is still figuring out what they’ve got and who they want to keep, and Fultz looks like he’s on the out and being shopped right now/forced minutes for rehab.

With all due respect. Suggs is our SG / G of the future and Cole has been solid for us. Just puts G Harris at the back of them. It's a crazy year when Houstan and even Black has a better 3pt% so far.

[JoshuaPotter]

He has played 10 games and started 5. Black has played 38 and started 28.

Meanwhile we’ve got Harris as another FA to be and Howard in the G-League but nobody seems as pressed to clear room there.

It should be clear to anyone that the team is still figuring out what they’ve got and who they want to keep, and Fultz looks like he’s on the out and being shopped right now/forced minutes for rehab.

This is a bit disingenuous out of you because when they're both healthy, Fultz plays and Black does not, which is what everyone is upset about. Not the fact that Black was fortunate enough to play when Fultz was hurt.

Was Fultz ever healthy this season?

[Bensational]

He has played 10 games and started 5. Black has played 38 and started 28.

Meanwhile we’ve got Harris as another FA to be and Howard in the G-League but nobody seems as pressed to clear room there.

It should be clear to anyone that the team is still figuring out what they’ve got and who they want to keep, and Fultz looks like he’s on the out and being shopped right now/forced minutes for rehab.

This is a bit disingenuous out of you because when they're both healthy, Fultz plays and Black does not, which is what everyone is upset about. Not the fact that Black was fortunate enough to play when Fultz was hurt.

I've said all along injuries would open up playing time for the young guys? We've got enough history for anyone to have felt comfortable with that prediction. The team kept Fultz out for 28 games with "tendinitis in the knee" with doesn't chalk with any limitations he's displayed. I think they actively benched him to give Black play time to start this season, because Fultz hasn't been able to progress.

But hey, let's move Fultz for Tyus Jones, another FA PG, and let him block Black's path to minutes instead because we're consistent in our demands on this board!

[Audi]

I'm no doctor, but in looking at the clip posted in this thread showing the hitch in-game, that doesn't look like a shoulder problem to me. That movement looks like something that would be harder on his shoulder than simply heaving it up in one motion with the benefit of your core and lower body. Waiting until you are coming back down to get the shot up seems like it would put a lot more pressure on your shoulders...right?!?

Shoulder in this case is that it's part of the thoracic region with the neck and shoulders being the first part of the outlet of nerve bundles coming from the spinal cord. What you are seeing with the hitch is that part of his shooting motion is causing muscles (likely in his shoulder) to cause compression/impingement on nerves running down his arm(s) and into his hand(s). The hitch we are seeing is him temporarily losing feeling (and therefore, control) of his arms/hands due to the nerve compression. You can see in the recent shot he took - he had no ability to push the ball out toward the basket at the apex of his shot motion because he didn't have the feeling to do so. Once feeling returned it was already too late and he was already on the downward motion and the shot fell short. It's gotta truly suck...just a matter of fractions of a second could spell the difference between a make and a miss.

[Fortune Teller]

Just digging through stories from the Philadelphia media around the time the TOS announcement was made. Some openly questioned it, pointing out that it came from his agent. One article said they wouldn't even identify the doctor who diagnosed it, but I have no idea if that's true. He immediately went to California to rehab, away from the team. All very weird. But what I thought was most interesting was the official statement from the 76ers:

"Markelle Fultz has recently completed a thorough series of consultations with specialists across several disciplines. Thoracic outlet syndrome, which involves compression or irritation in the thoracic outlet (area between lower neck and upper chest), was identified. Physical therapy was recommended for Fultz before returning to play. Fultz will begin his physical therapy immediately, is out indefinitely, and further updates will be provided as appropriate."

So the team didn't say he has TOS. They didn't even say it was diagnosed. They just said TOS "was identified." Identified as what, a possibility, or a definitive cause? Identified by whom? No mention of that. Was it just one of the many "specialists", or more than one? Doesn't say. How serious was it? Physical therapy was "recommended". Note the use of the passive, rather than the active voice. TOS was identified, physical therapy was recommended. The passive voice lends to the impression that the Sixers may not even know who was saying these things, beyond Fultz's agent.

[OrlChamps2030]

Why are people still so hung up on him?

Because they're still playing him even though he's a free agent to be while not playing their 6th overall pick?

The unfortunate reality of trying to “win-now” while having a team with a lot of young guys. Hopefully the FO helps themselves (and Mosely) out and trades Fultz at the deadline

[RichCollab]

Fultz is going to shock the world tonight. He is going to attempt the deathifying 3pt shot.

[eyriq]

Fultz is going to shock the world tonight. He is going to attempt the deathifying 3pt shot.

Hahaha I luv u

[KillMonger]

something is going on with your shot when you're double pumping a jumpshot 10 feet from the rim

[Skin]

My support for him is parallel to his shot. ...and right now, it's regressing.

It looks nothing like his previous years with the Magic. It's just turning into a very sad story.

[Knightro]

But hey, let's move Fultz for Tyus Jones, another FA PG, and let him block Black's path to minutes instead because we're consistent in our demands on this board!

You're so close to getting it

It's not that Black is blocked from getting minutes in general (although that is a factor for some people) that's the problem.

It's that the player blocking him A. isn't good and B. doesn't have a long-term future here.

Someone like Tyus would give the Magic are more capable starting PG than they currently have for the rest of this year plus bird rights if they want to retain him or not. He's also proven he can be a very effective big minute backup on a playoff team too, so going to the bench down the road in theory wouldn't be much of an issue.

[Bensational]

But hey, let's move Fultz for Tyus Jones, another FA PG, and let him block Black's path to minutes instead because we're consistent in our demands on this board!

You're so close to getting it

It's not that Black is blocked from getting minutes in general (although that is a factor for some people) that's the problem.

It's that the player blocking him A. isn't good and B. doesn't have a long-term future here.

Someone like Tyus would give the Magic are more capable starting PG than they currently have for the rest of this year plus bird rights if they want to retain him or not. He's also proven he can be a very effective big minute backup on a playoff team too, so going to the bench down the road in theory wouldn't be much of an issue.

Tyus Jones wouldn’t be an example of a serious commitment to winning now, so if getting Black development time is the priority then Jones goes against that. If the ultimate goal is winning as much as we can, Jones isn’t the calibre of name we should be discussing. It would still very much be a “pick a lane” move because it won’t have moved the needle much in winning or developing Black.

[jezzerinho]

I'm no doctor, but in looking at the clip posted in this thread showing the hitch in-game, that doesn't look like a shoulder problem to me. That movement looks like something that would be harder on his shoulder than simply heaving it up in one motion with the benefit of your core and lower body. Waiting until you are coming back down to get the shot up seems like it would put a lot more pressure on your shoulders...right?!?

Shoulder in this case is that it's part of the thoracic region with the neck and shoulders being the first part of the outlet of nerve bundles coming from the spinal cord. What you are seeing with the hitch is that part of his shooting motion is causing muscles (likely in his shoulder) to cause compression/impingement on nerves running down his arm(s) and into his hand(s). The hitch we are seeing is him temporarily losing feeling (and therefore, control) of his arms/hands due to the nerve compression. You can see in the recent shot he took - he had no ability to push the ball out toward the basket at the apex of his shot motion because he didn't have the feeling to do so. Once feeling returned it was already too late and he was already on the downward motion and the shot fell short. It's gotta truly suck...just a matter of fractions of a second could spell the difference between a make and a miss.

Jeebus, you guys are blind or just wilfully ignoring what's staring at you. You're all casting around for explanations when its right in front of you.

Go watch his last postgame interview and tell me if you see anything atypical.

[MartinsIzAfraud]

But hey, let's move Fultz for Tyus Jones, another FA PG, and let him block Black's path to minutes instead because we're consistent in our demands on this board!

You're so close to getting it

It's not that Black is blocked from getting minutes in general (although that is a factor for some people) that's the problem.

It's that the player blocking him A. isn't good and B. doesn't have a long-term future here.

Someone like Tyus would give the Magic are more capable starting PG than they currently have for the rest of this year plus bird rights if they want to retain him or not. He's also proven he can be a very effective big minute backup on a playoff team too, so going to the bench down the road in theory wouldn't be much of an issue.

Tyus Jones wouldn’t be an example of a serious commitment to winning now, so if getting Black development time is the priority then Jones goes against that. If the ultimate goal is winning as much as we can, Jones isn’t the calibre of name we should be discussing. It would still very much be a “pick a lane” move because it won’t have moved the needle much in winning or developing Black.

It’s not but it would be the bare minimum for this FO could do. I’d love for them to go Murray Brogdon Simmons and if they strike out on all 3 go get Tyus.

Tyus AB split PG
Suggs Cole split SG

It makes a lot more sense than what we’ve got now.

[Bensational]

It’s not but it would be the bare minimum for this FO could do. I’d love for them to go Murray Brogdon Simmons and if they strike out on all 3 go get Tyus.

I’d rather wait and chase Conley + Monk in FA, personally. Or see what teams are blowing up then. Chances are the same names are still available and some new ones.

I’m all for moving off Fultz, but only if Black is guaranteed minutes off the bench. I like Jones, he’s a good player and would be a good addition, but if he’s gone in 3 months is that worth blocking minutes for Black?