Which player will take the final shot?

As the Philadelphia 76ers‘ foundation is set, it is time for all the players to establish their role on the team, including a closer. Who will step up and be “the guy” when the game is on the line?

Even after only playing 31 games last year, it became evident that the Philadelphia 76ers were Joel Embiid‘s team. While he slid right into the role as defensive anchor, the offensive end presented him some trouble. His versatility and strength was valuable during the team’s strong stretch in January but often was a ball stopper and forced up poor shots.

Even with his struggles, Embiid often saw the ball toward the end of the game. However, other Sixers were found taking the final big shot. TJ McConnell made some huge shots for the team this year, and Covington showed his fearlessness by never backing down from the opportunity to win the game. With the addition of Fultz and Simmons, who can we expect to be the team’s definitive closer to rely on?

Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid

As “The Process” enters his second year surrounded by better teammates, expect a jump in offensive efficiency and decision making. While he occasionally struggled with decision making before his rookie season was cut short, the Philadelphia 76ers were by no means equipped with a second option for him to rely on. Embiid will continue to showcase his shooting and post moves, creating a mismatch for almost every defensive match-up.

No matter how much he improves though, it seems very rare to see the ball in a big man’s hands for the last shot. Embiid is most dangerous in the post, and the ball gravitates toward the perimeter as the clock winds down. While he should be available for lobs and open cuts toward the basket, chances are Brett Brown will not have his 7-foot-2, 250 pound center as the ball handler.

Ben Simmons

As talented as Markelle Fultz is, the most talented passer and play maker on the team is Ben Simmons. A true point guard in a big man’s body, he will provide the most versatility for the team being able to play point, small forward, power forward, and potentially even a small ball center. He is one of the most talented passers to come out of college in a while and will be integral to the offense this year.

He still has one glaring flaw: shooting. The main question mark this year will be to see if his stroke is broken or was just hidden at LSU. In a league dictated by floor spacing, the worst thing to do on the final possession is collapse the court by having the defense not respect the ball handlers jump shot. Clogging the lane with Simmons defender backed up means wing defenders can pay attention to the shooters and give them less room. Placing a poor shooter at the realm of an offense may work throughout the game, but limits the number of plays available to create one final open shot.

Markelle Fultz

The youngest and least experienced of the three, Fultz will often struggle the most this season. He will need time to get acquainted to the speed and size of the league, so a learning curve is expected to start off the year. Once he finally gets his feet wet, his immense potential will finally be on display for a league obsessed with the flashy passing of Lonzo Ball. People forget what a fascinating prospect he is, and that can be used to catch teams by surprise.

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With a strong handle, passing instincts and a promising shooting stroke, Fultz seems like the perfect candidate to control the ball at the end. His confidence has been noticeable with playoff and MVP talk, and when his play matches that confidence, it will be a scary product. In a point guards league, Fultz could hold to key for the Sixers to truly take off. Embiid’s size and Simmons shooting leaves Fultz as the perfect candidate to be the Philadelphia 76ers closer.