[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I dunno - perfect would've been a healthy Fultz. But he wasn't healthy. They're so strong in the frontcourt and Robert Covington is such a perfect fit for them with Simmon's shooting issues that what they really needed was a perimeter player who could stretch the defense.

Then again, by playing Simmons at point, they could've tried Covington as a stretch 4 and put Tatum in as a 3 with Redick at the 2. I just think they wanted to get a little more athleticism on the perimeter and a healthy Fultz was just such a dynamic player.

I understand why they did it; if Fultz is who they thought he was, I think they're better than they are with Tatum. The spacing is a little better with Fultz back there and Simmons as more of a point forward. But Fultz just isn't healthy and there are enough whispers that you wonder if there isn't some long-term damage in that shoulder of his.

Simmons, AFAIK, was always slated for the 1. Tatum would have been fine at the 3, with Redick at the 2 (at least for this season). With Embiid at the 5, I'm not sure it matters who is at the 4 at that point.