Markelle Fultz Updates Thread

[Bensational]

Fournier just said in pregame interview that Fultz is special and they are all learning how to play with him. Evan is not quick to make praise so that quote is impressive. We can add Clifford interviews where he told many times Fultz is best player on the floor for us and its so hard not to be excited. If we aquired our primary creator by giving Simmons and 2nd round pick i am just stunned. We missed on Embiid, Porzingis, Doncic, Young could it be luck is on our side once again?

This is what I've been noticing on the court. Fultz is getting players great looks, but it comes via a bit of chaos right now. They're never quite sure where to be and when, to help him help them.

If you look at the types of assists and placements Fultz is gettnig for guys, it's incredibly similar to what Payton was doing for them. Handoffs under the rim. Shovel passes from just inside the top of the arc out to Ross/Fournier who have either arrived late or just curled around and got open. Cross court whips to open 3pt shooters. Pick and Pops for a 3 from a C.

It's inside-out/drive-and-dish work. He's the initial wrecking ball that disrupts the set defense, then the team need to continue moving the ball to find the best shot after that, or complete the shots he gets them. We'll get there.

[MagicFan101]

Surely someone covered this somewhere on the board so apologies for asking again .... but, can we officially declare Fultz our new starting PG? Or was that a situational thing?

Has anyone heard an official word from Cliff?

[Howard Mass]

Coach Clifford indicated he is the starter going forward.

[MagicFan101]

Coach Clifford indicated he is the starter going forward.

Very good to hear.

[MagicFan101]

I am a DJ fan. I’m very grateful for the hard work and professionalism he has brought to the Magic.

I just don’t like the idea of our PG rotation consisting of DJ as the full time starter with the likes of Jerian Grant as our backup.

If and when Fultz gets back to form, we could be in a position to call this one of the better PG rotations in the league .... Fultz, DJ, MCW.

[pepe1991]

I am a DJ fan. I’m very grateful for the hard work and professionalism he has brought to the Magic.

I just don’t like the idea of our PG rotation consisting of DJ as the full time starter with the likes of Jerian Grant as our backup.

If and when Fultz gets back to form, we could be in a position to call this one of the better PG rotations in the league .... Fultz, DJ, MCW.

I don't think DJ will resign. Nor do i belive that front office has any interest in re-signing him anyway.

[MagicFan101]

I am a DJ fan. I’m very grateful for the hard work and professionalism he has brought to the Magic.

I just don’t like the idea of our PG rotation consisting of DJ as the full time starter with the likes of Jerian Grant as our backup.

If and when Fultz gets back to form, we could be in a position to call this one of the better PG rotations in the league .... Fultz, DJ, MCW.

I don't think DJ will resign. Nor do i belive that front office has any interest in re-signing him anyway.

Which has what exactly to the with the next 76 games? (+ playoffs should we make it)

[Knightro]

I would really like to see Fultz be given *full* control over this offense.

Spam the ever living hell out of Fultz/Vucevic pick and rolls. Utilize Fultz's abilities as a passer and in transition. Do whatever you gotta do to try and generate some offense ASAP.

[thelead]

I would really like to see Fultz be given *full* control over this offense.

Spam the ever living hell out of Fultz/Vucevic pick and rolls. Utilize Fultz's abilities as a passer and in transition. Do whatever you gotta do to try and generate some offense ASAP.

This my opinion as well. Fultz/Vuc two man game all day with Evan spotting up and AG cutting.

[Blue_and_Whte]

Turning Evan into a spot up shooter isn't playing him to his strengths. I agree that if Fultz is starting then he needs to run the offense, we don't need to be extreme and nerf Fourniers game. Hes actually been one of our better scorers so far,

[thelead]

Turning Evan into a spot up shooter isn't playing him to his strengths. I agree that if Fultz is starting then he needs to run the offense, we don't need to be extreme and nerf Fourniers game. Hes actually been one of our better scorers so far,

He can run the offense when Fultz or MCW aren’t in the game. He just can’t produce for others even though he does well to create for himself. It stagnates the offense and leads to these sub-100 point efforts.

[swarlesbarkley]

Since Fultz is officially the starter now I hope (pretty pretty please) we can make the necessary changes on offense to utilize his current strengths instead of just throwing him into the DJ role.

[Blue_and_Whte]

Turning Evan into a spot up shooter isn't playing him to his strengths. I agree that if Fultz is starting then he needs to run the offense, we don't need to be extreme and nerf Fourniers game. Hes actually been one of our better scorers so far,

He can run the offense when Fultz or MCW aren’t in the game. He just can’t produce for others even though he does well to create for himself. It stagnates the offense and leads to these sub-100 point efforts.

Im not even advocating that he run the offense, but hes certainly more than a spot up shooter even with either Fultz or MCW on the floor with him. He's also not the cause of sub-100 point efforts, thats a product of not having a true go to scorer on the team. We've always struggled offensively.

[OrlandO]

Offense should run through Fultz and Vuc first and if that breaks down Fournier can have a crack at it if he ends up with the ball. Once in a while he can go early. Same goes for AG.

[ezzzp]

Turning Evan into a spot up shooter isn't playing him to his strengths. I agree that if Fultz is starting then he needs to run the offense, we don't need to be extreme and nerf Fourniers game. Hes actually been one of our better scorers so far,

He can run the offense when Fultz or MCW aren’t in the game. He just can’t produce for others even though he does well to create for himself. It stagnates the offense and leads to these sub-100 point efforts.

Fultz definitely needs to be more aggressive looking for his shot and the volume of PnR's with Vucevic needs to increase.

BUT, the 2/5 PnR actually creates situations were Fultz can attack already bent defenses. You do not want to take that away. They just need to play together more to build a chemistry and timing of how to make both attacks work with each other. That's way more dangerous and versatile than limiting the offense to Fultz just pounding shot clock looking for seams vs set defenses sagging back. Good offenses have a primary and a secondary playmaker option, removing the secondary playmaker does nothing but put more pressure on the primary and make it easier on the defense.

The Magic rank 8th in total FGA's with defender +6' away. They are getting a ton of wide open looks that they are missing. The Magic are 31-102 (.304 3P%) on wide open 3's and most of those looks are from players that can make those shots. They are also missing a ton of easy shots at the rim (54% at point blank range - 29th in NBA). That's what is stagnating the offense...not Fournier.

[MagicStarwipe]

Seems to me AG has more potential to work in the offense as a secondary creator (or 3rd behind Vuc and Fultz) once his shot comes around again since he has better court vision and is a more willing passer.

[ezzzp]

Seems to me AG has more potential to work in the offense as a secondary creator (or 3rd behind Vuc and Fultz) once his shot comes around again since he has better court vision as is a more willing passer.

You have to be able to drive with some level of effectiveness to be secondary creator:

[MagicStarwipe]

Seems to me AG has more potential to work in the offense as a secondary creator (or 3rd behind Vuc and Fultz) once his shot comes around again since he has better court vision as is a more willing passer.

You have to be able to drive with some level of effectiveness to be secondary creator:

Depends how you create. Vuc is a better creator than both and he isn't a driver. AG is 3rd on the team in assists while being 10th in usage. AG when he is not going into his And1 mixtape bag of dribbling so he can shoot a fade away is a better passer. I don't think you have to be a Evan hater, a AG lover, a Evan lover, a AG hater or JFK conspiracist to see that.

[MagicStarwipe]

If we just change the word create to option. The offense worked better last season with Evan as a 3rd option.

[ezzzp]

Depends how you create. Vuc is a better creator than both and he isn't a driver. AG is 3rd on the team in assists while being 10th in usage. AG when he is not going into his And1 mixtape bag of dribbling so he can shoot a fade away is a better passer. I don't think you have to be a Evan hater, a AG lover, a Evan lover, a AG hater or JFK conspiracist to see that.

Yea, but Vucevic creates mostly from 2/5 PnR-PnPop actions where he's facilitating from the mid/high post.

It doesn't matter if Gordon can thread a needle with his eyes closed, if he can't break through set half court defenses it doesn't matter. I'd love nothing more than for AG to be a capable on-ball wing, but sadly he's not. We've seen it fail at volume for 3 straight seasons, and this year it has somehow looked even worse.

Fournier isn't a highlight-reel-handles type of driver, but he overachieves by savvy use of speed shifts and angles to contort through seams and screens that allows him to drive effectively. Its not pretty, but it still works.