II. Can’t earn playing time
Markelle Fultz was not likely to have much playing time on the Boston Celtics roster. But what happens if Jerryd Bayless is the second coming of Allen Iverson? (don’t @ me, this is hyperbole) What happens if Ben Simmons “gels” with Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot. What happens if the team retains Gerald Henderson and Nik Stauskas, and Markelle Fultz is suddenly the fourth player on the depth chart.
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That’s never going to happen, is it?
Well unlikely or not, the possibility exists. The bare truth of the matter is that the Philadelphia 76ers have yet to see Ben Simmons in a true NBA game. Jerryd Bayless for more than three games. Joel Embiid beyond 31 games.
Who are these Philadelphia 76ers?
The fans of the Philadelphia 76ers have yet to see 60 percent of last years starters play together. And now the team is adding another top pick. I love Markelle Fultz. His play is electrifying. But he has some holes in his play that we will discuss very shortly.
As he adjusts to the NBA, familiarizing himself to teammates and coaches, he will lose focus on the game he loves. It’s natural. NBA rookies do not come out of the shoot and deliver game leading offense and show stopping defense. It takes time. While Fultz is adjusting to everything around him, head coach Brett Brown may limit the variables. Will he throw Fultz to play 30 minutes if he is still learning plays and schemes? So if Fultz is not lightning fast in adjusting, do not be alarmed if he eases into progressively more playing time.