In an opinion piece for The Philadelphia Inquirer, David Murphy writes that the Sixers should play Markelle Fultz this season if and when he is healthy enough to return, even though there is an argument to be made for shutting Fultz down for the remainder of the 2017/18 campaign.
Murphy opines that the Sixers often struggle to find an offensive dimension that allows opportunities for guys to create their own shots, the need for which increases during playoff time as defenses more readily prepare for the opposition. As veteran Ersan Ilyasova put it, “In the playoffs, when you play a seven-game series, you have to execute and kind of always bring something unique, because everybody’s studied each other.”
The Sixers had scored just 251 points on isolation plays this season, the fewest in the NBA, and they also rate poorly in pick-and-roll efficiency, scoring on drives, and getting fouled on drives.
Enter Fultz, who could be the type of player to possibly add this needed dimension to the Sixers’ rotation. “He can make us better,” head coach Brett Brown said. “… Just what he does in open court, what he does with a live ball. I think he can be different from any player that we already have. What I see in practice sometimes, you understand completely why he was the first player chosen in the NBA draft.”
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- In his first season with the Nets, veteran forward DeMarre Carroll has done everything asked of him and more, writes Brian Lewis of the New York Post. Carroll has started at power forward and even played center, all while keeping an upbeat attitude through the team’s rebuilding. “I’m feeling good,” said Carroll. “This is the best I’ve felt in my career. I feel like playing with these young guys is rejuvenating me and making me feel even younger. I’ve just got to keep trying to show these guys by example, rather than doing the talking.”
- In another article for the New York Post, Lewis reports that Nets guard D’Angelo Russell is finally learning to work on his defense. Always a gifted scorer, Russell will continue to improve defensively as he gets older, bigger, and stronger, per head coach Kenny Atkinson.
- Current Thunder head coach Billy Donovan still speaks highly of his former player at Florida – Celtics big man Al Horford, reports Taylor Snow of Celtics.com. “What I’ve always respected about (Al) is that it’s always about winning; he’ll do whatever he has to do to win and sacrifice whatever he has to to win.”
- Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek doesn’t have much news to report on the Joakim Noah front, tweets Ian Begley of ESPN. Asked how the whole situation would resolve, Hornacek punted to general manager Scott Perry and team president Steve Mills.
“The Sixers rate poorly [in isolation plays], pick-and-roll efficiency, scoring on drives, and getting fouled on drives.”
I can see how giving up so much for Fultz makes sense, to fix these flaws.
But so has keeping their rookies from playing their first year. They should pay a price if it happens again next year. I’m not thinking it is bad luck anymore, if I ever did.
Noel and Embiid had legit injuries keeping them out 1 and 2 years respectively. Simmons, yes he was injured, could he have come back sure if it were not for the bonuses revolving around ROY. Fultz… injury lead to poor mechanics, which is something that would keep a pitcher out in baseball, so I get it. If they were “tanking” again then yr argument has some clout, except they may be the 4th seed in the playoffs.
It’s not like they’re sitting out healthy players, they’re putting them in the best position to succeed by not rushing them onto the court with their various injuries/magically lost jump shots. Rookies rarely play minutes on playoff teams until very recently where there’s been outstanding rookies anyway. The 76ers should take their time with Fultz, it worked out really well with both Simmons and Embiid
I’m sure there’s some legitimate or logical reason to hold him out. You only control these potential stars for five years, why sit them down for no reason?
Nine years usually
If RFA offer sheet is matched
How many updates on Fultz can there be? Maybe it’s just because I’m a 76ers fan but damn, let me know when he’s gonna suit up
This kid Fultz is special and has a nose for the ball. Even if his jumpshot is not elite if he gets his shooting mechanics back he’s a good enough shooter to take pressure off Embiid and Simmons. Fultz is the end of the process, once that kid is out there the Sixers will be dynamic and a powerhouse in the East. I think their ceiling is the second round this season even with Fultz but starting next season expectations should be ECF at the very least.
Take it easy on the Al Hordford praise Billy. It’s easy to do whatever it takes to win when you’re making $28-$30M per year with average to below average numbers. It would be more impressive if he was making half that salary.
I was a proponent of trading for Carmelo Anthony before they gave all the money to Reddick and Johnson. Simply b/c they had no iso scorer. That and I’d have made them include the Knicks 1st round pick from 2017 or 2018 to unload his contract and take Bayless and Okafor. But that time has passed. They could address this in the offseason – obviously with adding LeBron. Smaller signings would be Tyreke Evans.