Tough measuring up to Sixers’ kid corps

PHILADELPHIA — Markelle Fultz received a standing ovation when he entered Wednesday’s 118-101 victory over the Knicks in the first half. It marked just the second game that Fultz, the top pick from the 2017 NBA Draft, has played since October.

And he got a standing ovation.

These are good days indeed for the notoriously demanding Philadelphia sports fan. The Eagles won the Super Bowl in February and Villanova is going for its second national championship in three years this weekend in San Antonio.

Meanwhile, the Sixers, winners of eight straight, are back in the playoffs for the first time in six years.

So Fultz, sidelined 68 games with an apparent shoulder injury and perhaps confidence issue, gets a pass. At least for now.

Trusting the process is finally paying dividends in the City of Brotherly Love. The Sixers are 44-30 and are on pace to clinch homecourt advantage. But it took a few failed drafts, wasted seasons due to injury and a little luck.

The Knicks, of course, are headed in the opposite direction. They have missed the playoffs for the fifth straight year. In June, they will be selecting in the lottery for the third time in four years. At this rate, they’ll be back there next year, too.

To make matters worse, center Enes Kanter had X-rays on his wrist and back that were negative. The Knicks said Kanter has a bruised back.

In 2015, Kristaps Porzingis fell into their laps at No. 4. On the one hand, the Knicks were fortunate. But Porzingis has battled injuries and illness since entering the league and is currently sidelined following major left knee surgery.

“The first thing the Knicks have to do is determine whether Kristaps can stay healthy and whether he’s a star,” says one rival executive. “Right now, they don’t know the answer to either question.”

Last June’s lottery pick, Frank Ntilikina, has suffered through the growing pains commonly associated with a rookie point guard. Some nights he’s promising. Other nights he’s dreadful. Since drafting Ntilikina, the Knicks have signed Trey Burke and traded for Emmanuel Mudiay. If the Knicks are sold on the young Frenchman why do they keep adding players at his position?

It’s unlikely that the Knicks will be as patient with Ntilikina as the Sixers were with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Embiid entered the league injured but he was also touted as an All-Star level talent. Now in his fourth season, Embiid has rewarded the Sixers’ patience.

Although he suffered a bruised face and was knocked out of Wednesday’s game following a first-half collision with Fultz, Embiid is one of the league’s dominant big men. He also became an All-Star this year.

Simmons, who missed all of last season after being selected No. 1 in 2016, has star potential as well. He needs to improve his outside shot but his abilities to run a team and fill a boxscore are impressive. On Wednesday, Simmons finished with 13 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. Dario Saric led the Sixers with 26 points.

Fultz’s role for the remainder of the regular season and into the playoffs is unclear. Against the Knicks, he played 14 minutes and made just one of five shots. However, Fultz did record seven assists and five rebounds.

He was selected No. 1 after the Boston Celtics traded down and took Jayson Tatum third. Fultz has the ability to be an electrifying scorer but at best he will play spot minutes.

The question is whether Fultz will be part of the Sixers’ core or will he be the next Nerlens Noel or Jahlil Okafor, two other lottery picks who didn’t pan out.

The Sixers tanked for years and finally have the makings of a playoff team. Sacramento and Orlando have been unwillingly tanking for years and their respective futures are bleak. he Knicks’ immediate future is suspect at best. They are 27-49 and on the verge of losing at least 50 games for the fourth straight season.

A lot hinges on how well Porzingis recovers, how Ntilikina develops and if general manager Scott Perry hits a home run in the draft. A strike out would be a major setback.

Remember, it’s a process. But do you trust it?

TAP