After a controversial five-month hiatus, Markelle Fultz's surprising return to the surging Philadelphia 76ers has played a sizeable role in their late-season run as the hottest team in the NBA. In his past 11 games, Fultz is averaging an impressive 15.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 9.4 assists and 2.1 turnovers per 36 minutes while becoming the youngest player in NBA history to notch a triple-double in the Sixers' regular-season finale. He has also helped spark a seemingly unstoppable bench unit.

Slotted behind likely Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons and playing in a lineup with shooting and experience at virtually every position, Fultz has been able to play free of wild expectations. But fans still hang on his every jump shot attempt.

What shape is his jumper in now? And how is it affecting the rest of his game? As the Sixers bid for a 2-0 series lead over the Miami Heat and a deep playoff run, let's dive into the impact Fultz can make.

Where is Fultz as a shooter?

While he has been a major contributor to a variety of wins, Fultz has attempted just one 3-pointer and 13 free throws (seven makes) since returning, shooting 42.5 percent from inside the arc. His jumper is a far cry from his Washington "hesi pull-up jimbo" form, as he showed against the Heat with an airballed pull-up and several turned-down, catch-and-shoot or off-the-dribble jumpers.

Pull-ups: Lacking range, threat in the paint

Fultz's lack of confidence in his 3-ball is clear when teams go under screens or give him space, though he's making incremental strides in midrange spots. He rarely looks at the rim in such situations, opting to spin into the paint or get off the ball. It's unlikely Fultz will rediscover his pull-up 3 during a high-intensity playoff run, so expect him to continue getting the Sixers into their sets or relying on midrange pull-ups and dashes to the rim before addressing the issue in the offseason.

The Heat regularly sagged off Fultz when he initiated offense in the half court, daring him to beat them from the perimeter:

NBA

Although he's not yet a threat from NBA 3, Fultz's jumper is in far better shape than it was in October.

He's still working through some rust and trying to find his natural release point, but Fultz has looked quite comfortable rising up from 15 feet despite what his percentages say (scoring only 0.538 points per possession on 26 pull-up jumpers). He set all of Philadelphia on fire with a crossover pull-up and hang-dribble jumper against the Denver Nuggets' Mason Plumlee in his first game back, and he has had some nice moments in and around the paint since then, showing flashes of what made scouts fall in love with him at the college level.