The Sixer Sense
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The Philadelphia 76ers need Markelle Fultz to save playoff hopes

By Rusty Gorelick

PHILADELPHIA,PA - DECEMBER 15: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers exercises as he progresses in his return to the court before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Wells Fargo Center on December 15, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA,PA - DECEMBER 15: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers exercises as he progresses in his return to the court before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Wells Fargo Center on December 15, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers have slid downhill for a while now, and they have lost 10 of their last 12 games. Markelle Fultz could help the team out of its rut.

The Philadelphia 76ers have come back down to earth after a solid start to the season. Brett Brown and company suffered 10 losses in their last 12 games, and fans are starting to doubt whether or not the team will make the playoffs. Philly currently sits in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, three games out of the eighth seed.

The Sixers need a guard who can shoot threes reliably, take care of the ball and explode to the rim. Fortunately for the team, they already have that player on their roster. Unfortunately for the team, he has been out since Oct. 24 and has just four career games under his belt, where he underwhelmed, to say the least.

As he came into the league, the Markelle Fultz’s most attractive attribute in the Sixers’ eyes was his jump shot. Point guard Ben Simmons is both unable and unwilling to shoot, and the Sixers did not sign Joel Embiid to a max contract to stand behind the 3-point line. As most Philadelphia 76ers fans recall, various reports about Fultz’s jump shot and health flew around, and that started back in the summer.

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The Sixers need Markelle Fultz to come back as the player he was during and before the Summer League began. Whether his injury is actually a shoulder issue or really a mental block, it’s a smart move by the franchise to not rush the 19-year-old into action with whatever issue plagues him at the moment.

Bryan Colangelo traded a future lottery pick for a kid who shot 41.3 percent from 3-point range in college, and who also averaged 23.2 points, 5.9 assists and 5.7 boards.

Philly needs Fultz to play close to that level if they want to make a playoff push since defenses around the league now know how to defend Ben Simmons. Fultz has the potential to add a level of unpredictability to the 76ers offense: at his best, he can score from all three levels, make plays for others, and defend opponents’ primary ball-handler with his seven-foot wingspan.

In addition, Fultz should become the main option in clutch situations for the Philadelphia 76ers. Ben Simmons’ inability and unwillingness to shoot makes him too predictable and Joel Embiid’s handles are not reliable enough for Brett Brown to have him in isolation plays late in games.

Sixers fans have already seen Fultz’s explosiveness and skill when driving to the rim against NBA defenses, and if the coaching staff fixes his jumper, Philly could end up with a young James Harden.

As Michael Levin of The Rights to Ricky Sanchez podcast said eloquently:

Without a healthy Fultz, defenses can easily predict what each Sixer other than Joel Embiid and Dario Saric will do when they have the ball. The team needs a multi-dimensional threat at guard as soon as possible, and Fultz is that player.

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It’s crucial that the medical staff and Brown do not rush him into play before he can handle the stress of the NBA, but if the Sixers intend to show legitimate progress and snag a playoff spot and prove to their fans that the 2017/18 season is not another year of the Process, they need to bring Fultz into the rotation or trade for an experienced guard who can slash, shoot, and take care of the rock.