Furkan Korkmaz addresses Sixers’ home and road differences

The Philadelphia 76ers had the best home record in the league before the shutdown, but their road performances weren’t nearly as good.

Philadelphia 76ers wing Furkan Korkmaz has climbed his way into the team’s rotation this season, but as the NBA’s restart nears, Korkmaz and the Sixers have to pay even closer attention to their weak spots.

For the Sixers, that main weak spot is how different they are on the home and the road. Though Orlando is a neutral site, it’s still away from the comforts of the Wells Fargo Center. Before the shutdown, the Sixers were 29-2 at home and boasted the top home record in the league. On the road, though, they were 10-24, the second-worst of any team in the bubble. They shot 48.5% from the field at home, whereas they shot 44.7% on the road.

Korkmaz’s numbers were significantly affected on the road, too. He shot 45.3% from the 3-point line at home and 34.7% on the road. He has shot a career-high 39.7% from beyond the arc this season.

In speaking to the media over Zoom on Sunday, Korkmaz voiced assurance in himself and the team.

“We are all ready here,” Korkmaz said. “As mentally, as physically, we’re all ready. We know the challenge is going to be different, it’s going to be tough. We all know that. But we’re working for that.”

A third-year player from Turkey, Korkmaz has had the best season of his career so far. He has scored a career-high 9.7 points per game and shot a career-high 43.2% from the field. Korkmaz has also played a career-high 21.8 minutes a game this season.

But since Glenn Robinson III and Alec Burks gave depth to the bench at the trade deadline, Korkmaz could find himself jockeying for minutes. Matisse Thybulle, Mike Scott and Shake Milton — if he doesn’t start — are also key reserves.

Brown said to media Sunday over Zoom that he wants to start with a 10-player rotation and thinks it will come down to nine in the playoffs.

“My bandwidth, my net is wider right now because I really do want to see,” Brown said. “I haven’t seen these guys for four months. And when you get into people like Glenn Robinson and Alec Burks and Mike Scott, and you just mentioned Matisse (Thybulle) and Furkan (Korkmaz), what are we going to do with Al (Horford)? There needs to be some decisions, and something’s gotta give. You’re not going to play everybody.”

The Sixers will play their first seeding game Aug. 1 against the Indiana Pacers.

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