The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Why Markelle Fultz is the perfect late-game closer

By Christopher Kline

GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: Markelle Fultz of the 76ers poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: Markelle Fultz of the 76ers poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

What else has to happen?

There are obviously some tough decisions that factor into making Fultz the go-to guy late in games.

Joel Embiid will likely be the team’s No. 1 option next season, and he’s more than capable of creating his own offense when asked to do so. We also saw Embiid go into takeover mode on more than one occasion last season, putting his head down and getting a bit of tunnel vision — which was arguably his biggest flaw at times.

Allowing Fultz to take over games late means Embiid needs to differ, something he’ll have to be willing to do. With such limited talent around him last season, looking to single-handedly control possessions was understandable. With a pair of elite ball handlers and more offensive firepower joining him, that role will be dispersed elsewhere by virtue of his position.

Embiid can’t handle himself on the perimeter to the extent that somebody like Fultz can. That not only leads to more turnovers when he’s asked to create down the stretch, but limits the areas of the court that Brett Brown can utilize and still be effective. The trends of basketball in general favor guards more so than centers in isolation, and that’s one of the biggest hurdles the offense will need to clear.

Running Fultz in isolation also mitigates Simmons’ impact. As long as the former LSU stud isn’t stroking spot-up jumpers, he’s at his best when controlling the ball and manipulating the pieces elsewhere on the floor. Simmons has had no problem differing in the past — and has actually had problems with differing too often — but he too will need to adjust to a different role late in games, even if go-to scoring has never been his shtick.

This isn’t necessarily Fultz’s team, but he has the arsenal indicative of somebody who will be relied upon the most as time wanes in close games. It’s rare for a guard to enter the league with Fultz’s polish in isolation, while his general calmness is something that helps immensely when a player is asked to traverse high-pressure situations.

The Sixers are going to have to lean on a rookie, and that’s something most coaches aren’t all that comfortable doing. But Fultz isn’t like most rookies, and is more than ready to take on an expansive — and important — role during his rookie season.

He’ll have his rookie bumps, but they won’t be as jarring as they will be for the majority of his counterparts. He may be viewed as the tertiary piece in this rebuild, but it shouldn’t take too long for fans to realize just how important Fultz’s skill set is to the Sixers’ success.

Next: 2018 NBA Draft Big Board 1.0

If anything, it can end that mind-numbing discussion about Fultz’s losing record at Washington.