5. Markelle Fultz will take time
Fultz wasn’t as productive in his second game as he was in his first, dropping just six points and three assists on a meager 2-9 shooting. He had his shot blocked on multiple occasions in the lane, and still doesn’t have a grasp on his timing at the NBA level.
These struggles were expected to some extent — especially after his not-so-great preseason run. He’s still devoid of confidence in his jumper, and spinning into blocked shots or getting engulfed in traffic won’t boost the spirits of a 19-year-old who entered the league with such high expectations.
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That doesn’t mean he hasn’t shown some good signs. His vision as a passer, especially when coming around screens and getting into the lane, remains a serious weapon. He’s a highly advanced passer with excellent feel for his age, and that has showed on a handful of plays thus far. One play in particular — where he spun to the rim before making the dish to a cutting Embiid — was his best highlight in Friday night’s loss.
His defense isn’t there either, but there’s reason to buy stock in his potential . With the effort and physical tools in place, in now comes down to making smart plays on the ball and staying engaged off of it. He had a few bad fouls against Boston, and those are the kinds of rookie mistakes that should dissipate with more experience.
It wasn’t a pretty game for Fultz, but he’s going to be one heck of a player once he figures it all out. We just need to wait for that to happen.