Is Markelle Fultz the Final Piece in Philadelphia?
"Trust the Process", has been a slogan that has been used for the past several seasons in Philadelphia. The pain and suffering of losing seasons in Philadelphia may not be happening any time soon. For the first time since the 2011-2012 season, the Philadelphia 76ers will be in the NBA Playoffs.
In a 123-104 win last night at home against the Denver Nuggets, rookie point guard Markelle Fultz returned from a shoulder injury and only appeared in his fifth game of the regular season. He missed 68 consecutive games before last night. Fultz scored 10 points and recorded eight assists in 14 minutes. It is the first time in NBA History a player scored at least 10 points and recorded eight assists in under 15 minutes.
In just five games this season, Fultz is averaging 6.8 PPG 2.6 RPG and 3.0 APG. Fultz was the number one pick for a reason because he can drive to the basket and be a solid shooter. This was a good sign he came back this season and not next season.
Fultz now doesn't have to think about the possibility of becoming a bust in the NBA. He will start to thrive in the 76ers offense, along with Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, Ben Simmons, J.J. Reddick, and others.
Is Fultz the final piece to the puzzle for the 76ers? He might be because Fultz is a point guard who can shoot the basketball with confidence and it takes pressure off of Ben Simmons shooting from the outside. With Fultz being in the lineup, it will create even more open shots for Joel Embiid, Robert Covington, and J.J. Reddick.
As of right now, the Philadelphia 76ers are the four seed in the east with a 43-30 record. It is very possible they will have home court in the first round. Philadelphia could upset the Toronto Raptors in the second-round, if they were to get past the Indiana Pacers.
Fultz will have nine more games in the regular season to get his confidence up and develop chemistry with Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and others.
Everyone talks about the Boston Celtics plan as well, but the truth of the matter is that the Philadelphia 76ers have higher upside now with Fultz, Embiid, Simmons, and Saric compared to the Boston Celtics with Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum.
