This is where we are now: We’re watching clandestine videos of Markelle Fultz shooting in practice, and analyzing grainy screenshots that indicate that something is absolutely still wrong with the poor kid’s stroke.
Time to send Markelle Fultz to Qatar with a pitcher of Shirley Temples
We have that and more in Monday’s NBA newsletter.
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Fultz, the No. 1 overall pick, hasn’t played since the second week of the season. Asked whether Fultz needs to be 100 percent healthy to return to action — the story goes that the guard has shoulder pain — Sixers coach Brett Brown said this: “I think what he needs to be is able to shoot a basketball.” Yikesville.
As Tim Cato noted a few days ago, Fultz has been working on this problem for three months. Even the ultra-patient, process-oriented Philadelphia faithful are getting concerned.
The Sixers should probably do what they’ve done with injured rookies in their recent past, including Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid, Joel Embiid in Year 2, and Ben Simmons: Shut him down and let him focus fully on rehab all the way until Summer League. The apparent pressure to figure it out NOW doesn’t seem to be helping. Remove the pressure and see what happens.
Scores Galore ...
MIL 79, MIA 97
NOP 123, NYK 118 (OT)
IND 120, PHX 97
POR 103, MIN 120
... And So Much More
The NBA has five games on wide broadcast on Monday in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. NBA TV has Hornets-Pistons at 12:30 p.m. ET and Spurs-Hawks at 3 p.m. TNT has a triple-header, too: Lakers-Grizzlies in Memphis at 5:30 p.m. ET, Warriors-Cavaliers at 8, and Rockets-Clippers at 10:30.
More important is what TNT will give its audience between and during games. The special feature this year: Isiah Thomas is leading a conversation with Bernice King and Attallah Shabazz, the daughters of MLK and Malcolm X, respectively. There will surely be more. TNT’s NBA crew can be clumsy on important matters, but typically does MLK Day rather well.
Here’s Geoff Calkins on the importance of having a game in Memphis, and how the Grizzlies have never stuck to sports. The Grizzlies’ uniforms, being debuted on Monday, are inspired by the protest signs at the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers’ strike.
Penny Hardaway, Swin Cash, and other basketball heroes spent a day at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. Powerful images.
Marc Spears talked to coaches including Doc Rivers, Gregg Popovich, Dwane Casey, and Steve Kerr about Dr. King’s legacy.
Justin Tinsley tells the story of the controversy around whether the NBA should have played Game 1 of the East finals the day after King’s assassination.
Seerat Sohi on the rise of the Miami Heat, again.
Big piece from Mike Sykes on the return of the Nike Shox.
Anthony Davis was absolutely incredible in the Pels’ overtime win at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. But the play we’ll all from this game is this bizarre DeMarcus Cousins turnover followed by an Enes Kanter poster.
Raptors-Warriors was a heckuva show. It would have been a bit better if not for a questionable call ...
The LaMarcus Aldridge resurgence happened because he became the first player to ask Gregg Popovich to trade him.
Why LaMelo Ball should have accepted an invitation to play in the Adidas Next Generation Tournament.
Are the Cavaliers ready to trade the Brooklyn pick? If so, here are six potential trades. Meanwhile, here are some ideas to fix Cleveland’s bad defense.
A New Jersey girls basketball coach hits 1,000 wins. Incredible.
Caron Butler loves DuckTales. Who doesn’t?
”Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.” Be excellent to each other.
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