The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers need Markelle Fultz’s defense now

By Bret Stuter

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 15: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers practices his foul shot prior to the game against the Toronto Raptors at the Wells Fargo Center on January 15, 2018 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 15: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers practices his foul shot prior to the game against the Toronto Raptors at the Wells Fargo Center on January 15, 2018 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Philadelphia 76ers
OAKLAND, CA – NOVEMBER 11: Markelle Fultz #20 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on from the sideline during the game against the Golden State Warriors on November 11, 2017 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Last piece to the puzzle

Markelle Fultz is the lightning fast guy on this team. Despite the fact that the Philadelphia 76ers are one of the fastest paced teams in the league, it truly is hard to name a player who blurs up and down the basketball court. Sure, the team can pass from end to end, get guys in the right spot and pile up transition points quickly. But from the moment the basketball hits the hands of a 76ers player, there are few who can outrace everyone to the basket.

Fultz can.

He is worth all the optimism. He is incredibly talented, and the Philadelphia 76ers, regardless of the lack of verbiage, are wise in developing him fully.

Baryshnikov of the basketball court.

On one hand, Markelle Fultz is a 19 year-old NBA rookie with a mountain of responsibility and expectation upon his shoulders. On the other hand, the world monitors his every shot, trying to discern what new flaw exists. And finally, the entire matter of why Markelle Fultz is not on the basketball court has been shrouded behind a curtain of the team’s own making.

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But at some point, Fultz must step onto that basketball court. When he does, he will transition to the player everyone witnessed in a Washington Huskies uniform. He is the Baryshnikov of the basketball court.  No matter what the song, the art of basketball will always be in him. He is the last, and vital piece to this team. All that is needed is Markelle Fultz on the basketball court.