On Monday, the Sixers traveled down to Atlanta to face the Hawks in a preseason matchup. One notable change at the start of the game was in the starting lineup, which saw guard Eric Gordon in place of wing Caleb Martin. Martin was healthy and even set to play in the game; he simply would not be starting.
After the team’s practice on Tuesday, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse addressed the decision to sit Martin, citing it as due diligence, not a reflection of Martin’s ability to start.
“Well, again, “Just experimenting a little bit, I think, ‘What is he probably going to give us? He’s going to give us some energy off the bench,’ right, which I thought we lacked in the previous game. So again, just trying to solve that equation. A little bit splits up Kyle and Eric a little bit, which was also part of the plan. So, kind of maneuvering through different looks, right? And I think it’ll be pretty fluid as we go here for a little while.”
After Nurse spoke, Martin took the stand as it were and was asked about his mindset as it relates to whether or not he starts.
“My mindset is always just how do I impact the game. Whether I started, coming off the bench, or whatever it is, I just try to find the best way to possibly impact the game as much as needed.”
Martin was then asked the energy he brings to the game and how he utilizes that regardless of a starting or bench role.
“It’s gonna fluctuate. Sometimes, it’s gonna be more offensive days. I think all the time it’s gonna be defensively, the impact I’m gonna have. But some days offensively, it’s gonna be more than others. I think just pushing the pace, picking up full to three-quarters court, just trying to bring, like, a spark and bring a certain type of demeanor to the game. Just being physical, running fast, getting off the floor, getting passing lanes, getting deflections, whatever it is, I just try to just make stuff happen.”
Martin was then asked about his chemistry with Kyle Lowry, who Nurse mentioned in his explanation, giving Martin the opportunity to discuss his on-court comfortability with his once again teammate.
“Obviously, I have a lot of experience with Kyle being in Miami. Just the way he plays, he’s smart. Me and him feed really well off each other, based off the chemistry we’ve had before. He organizes things really well. He just makes the game easier. He always makes for anybody, whether he started or come on the bench or whoever was in his lineup, typically it’s a pretty good lineup. So, you know, I always enjoy playing with Kyle.”
Finally, Martin was asked about the running sets designed to be run around Joel Embiid.
I feel like my role with him is going to be pretty self-explanatory. I think he’s going to draw so much attention. I think my cuts will get to be really dynamic, just the way it’s going to work with him. I know [I’ve] seen Kelly. [I’ve] seen a lot of films with Kelly, and obviously a lot of experience playing against Philly with Kelly there.
“He gets so many open cuts because of [Joel] drawing so much attention. And I think he’ll make life a lot easier on that end for me; instead of having to work as hard to get buckets [and] offensive rebounds, he puts guys, and he puts other teams in out [of] group positions because of the attention he draws, so I’m excited to get those reps
