Philadelphia 76ers: Markelle Fultz needs commitment from Brett Brown

Markelle Fultz and his development should be a top priority for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Philadelphia 76ers‘ battle with the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night was an early Game of the Year candidate. Blake Griffin dropped 50, Joel Embiid and J.J. Redick countered, and it was a tight game with an exciting overtime finish.

With that said, there were still some concerns on the Sixers’ end. Brett Brown is a fantastic coach and brilliant basketball mind who, more often than not, makes reasonable decisions. And while his decision to bench Markelle Fultz wasn’t necessarily unreasonable, it was certainly a misstep.

Ben Simmons was on the bench with back tightness, setting up Fultz with the starting point guard gig and a prime opportunity to run the show. He did so effectively, starting the game with a mid-range pull-up and scoring 13 on the night.

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Despite an effective first half, however, Fultz was benched with 10:12 left in the fourth quarter. From that point forward, T.J. McConnell finished the game through overtime. Without Simmons, Fultz played just 20 minutes. McConnell played 32.

On paper, McConnell is the more reliable option. He’s a proven asset who has given Brown valuable minutes in the past, so it’s understandable that Brown would trust T.J. down the stretch of a close game.

That doesn’t make it the right decision. Fultz needs a firm commitment from Brown and the Sixers. If he’s going to start, he should also finish games. That’s especially true with Simmons on the bench.

While McConnell is solid, that’s his absolute peak — solid. He’s already at his ceiling. Fultz has the potential to transform the Sixers’ ceiling, adding another dynamic playmaker and three-level scorer to the rotation. Brown’s focus should be on helping Fultz reach that level.

As a 20-year-old who’s still adjusting to a reworked jumper and NBA basketball, Fultz will have low points throughout the season. He’s still a tentative shooter and needs more confidence off the ball, where he’ll spend most of his time as a starter.

Those growing pains have an effect on the Sixers’ offense, but it’s something Brown should be willing to live with. Even if the Sixers lose games with Fultz playing down the stretch, the benefits could outweigh the negatives down the line.

Against Detroit, Brown’s decision was especially egregious given the circumstances. Fultz was outplaying McConnell. He was the best point guard on the floor that night (for the Sixers, at least) and still got benched early in the final stanza. That can’t happen.

Generally speaking, the Sixers’ reluctance to get behind Fultz this season has been disappointing. He’s going to have slumps, but his importance to the team can’t be overstated. He should start second halves, and he should close tight games. Keeping him glued to the bench during every important moment doesn’t build confidence.

Next. 3 takeaways from overtime loss to Pistons. dark

When Simmons is healthy, Fultz should dominate the backup point guard minutes. When Simmons is out, Fultz should operate as the clear-cut starter and dominate those minutes. There’s no middle ground for McConnell. He should be the undisputed No. 3 on the depth chart.