5. Pop and Block
It’s been a strange season for the San Antonio Spurs. LaMarcus Aldridge didn’t want to be there, but now he does. Rudy Gay was signed. Kawhi got injured, but returned, but got re-injured, but got cleared, but he hasn’t returned yet. There’s been player-only meetings and rumors and all sorts of unSpursy incidents.
But it happened. After weeks and weeks of waiting for Kawhi Leonard to return from injury, Markelle is finally back in the Sixers lineup.
This was something I was not expecting. No one was, really. Brett Brown dropped the information haphazardly in a press conference, and then the people of the internet only had a few hours to form lasting opinions of importance and merit.
And then the thing happened. Last night the Fultz return game occured to the delight of the Philadelphia crowd. There were “we want Fultz!” chants and general aimless applause. And he looked good! A little skittish at times, but effective. And that shot that was fun to poke fun at? It was okay too!
…or was it? We should maybe take a closer look
Unfortunately, he made that difficult on us because he kept getting blocked. For example, here he is forgetting that tall people nearby can put their hands in the air.
Here he is at the end of the game realizing that even people who are somewhat short by comparison in the NBA are still quite tall.
Here he is getting blocked once on a possession.
And here he is at the other end of the possession having the same thing happen to him.
So far? Inconclusive.