J.J. Redick Can’t Afford To Miss Open Shots

Redick may have one of the quickest releases in the NBA from the perimeter. But the Sixers need him to be just as accurate as his time on the release. Last season, Redick averaged 17.0 points while shooting .420 percent from three-point territory. He will need to do more of the same or else.

With Markelle Fultz healthy, there’s a good chance he could overtake Redick in the starting rotation. While Redick is a great perimeter player he provides little else. The Sixers had no choice but to play him over 30 minutes in 2017 with Fultz hobbled with a shoulder injury that messed with his shooting mechanics. But all that can change with a few missed open shots. Redick will again get a ton of those this year with Embiid forcing the defense to collapse, and he’ll need to keep connecting at a high clip.

The one thing Redick has going for him is that Brown’s offense calls for the three-point shot a lot. While Fultz is still working out the kinks in his form, this is the time for Redick to stake claim to his starting position. However, if the Sixers struggle early on and need a playmaker, Fultz will be waiting in the wings.

Next Up: No. 3