The Philadelphia 76ers are currently in Orlando preparing for the league restart inside the bubble at Disney World. Of course, they will be led by Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, and Tobias Harris, but the efforts from the supporting cast will be vastly important in this upcoming playoff run.
They will need help from not only proven players such as Al Horford and Josh Richardson but also younger guys such as Shake Milton and Furkan Korkmaz. These players have the ability to help the trio of Sixers leaders on their way to a deep playoff run, but in order to do so, they will need people to open shots.
Korkmaz is one of those guys as he has had a breakout season shooting 39.7% from deep and becoming a regular piece of coach Brett Brown’s rotation. As the season gets set to resume, Brown knows they will need not only the shooting of Korkmaz, but also his ability to put the ball on the floor and use his size.
“You forget his size at times, you forget his ability to pass at times, he’s very clever, like Euro (Marco) Belinelli clever with floaters and different reads on things and I think all of that has been realized in a pronounced way this season,” Brown explained. “We’re going to ask him to keep that going in the playoffs. We need his ability to shoot the ball and, in general, score in many ways once, especially, the playoffs roll around.”
During the time in quarantine and away from the game, Korkmaz had to remain ready and keep his mind focused on shooting the basketball. He felt like he did that well enough even though things were rough for him when he got back at it. However, he knows now that his shot is fully ready to go as he is set to help the Sixers in their run.
“I would say the first two weeks, I was not happy because it was just getting used to it and being in a rhythm, but right now, I can definitely say I’m in shape,” he explained. “As a team, I think we were flying out there. Everybody was feeling and day-by-day we are feeling it more. From my perspective, I was ready. I was waiting for this time. All of this quarantine time, which I was in Philly, I was just thinking about the season and play. I’m so excited about it and I’m ready.”
When the Sixers do get back at it, they will be playing inside an empty gym in Orlando. That can affect some guys as the background behind the basket can mess up a shooter’s eye. For Korkmaz, it isn’t about the crowd. It is about just having the mental fortitude to be able to succeed from deep.
“I think as a player, as a shooter, we need to have that feeling,” he explained. “It doesn’t matter the rim. I think as a shooter, it’s all mental because you put in work every day. Take the same shots in practice as you do in a game, but when you focus, the game is easier and for shooters, it’s important to be in a good mental [space]. I think as a shooter and a team also, we’re not going to have a problem.”
The Sixers take on the Memphis Grizzlies in a scrimmage game on Friday so that will give them their first taste in this new atmosphere. [lawrence-related id=35229,35222,35212]