McDaniels better off the bench?

K.J. McDaniels might be more effective coming off the bench for now.

"I'm still trying to figure that out myself," the 76ers rookie guard said. "I'm just going out there trying to not do too much and try to let the game come to me."

That's what coach Brett Brown has been preaching to him all season. But that hasn't always been the case when he's in the starting lineup.

Saturday's 101-83 road setback to the Memphis Grizzlies was a prime example. McDaniels put pressure on himself to produce and forced things. The former Clemson standout later became visibly upset when his shots weren't falling. He finished with six points on 2-for-9 shooting and had four turnovers.

He came off the bench Monday and produced a solid individual effort in a 99-74 road loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. McDaniels finished with 16 points on 5-for-8 shooting. Then he had 10 points on 4-for-7 shooting as a reserve in Wednesday's 89-69 home victory over the Detroit Pistons.

Brown told him to "not try to go out there and do too much," McDaniels said. "And I have been listening, taking it in, and trying to improve."

McDaniels does realize that he and rookie reserve forward Jerami Grant could become a talented tandem off the bench.

"I feel like me and Jerami bring great energy off the bench and you know Jerami is fun to play with," he said. "I like playing with him and we all just have to keep learning and keep pushing from here."

Follow and contact Inquirer 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers