GAME #54: LAC (30-23) @ UTH (13-40) — THUR, 2/13 8:00 PM

[KL2]

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[madmaxmedia]

I'd say this was a successful debut by Simmons. Super efficient game with 12 points on 4-5 fgs, 7 rbs, 6 assists, not turnovers, 3 steals and a block. Can't ask for more than that.

A great stat line, on top of that I thought it was really impressive that he played 27 minutes for us in his first game.

[LamarWho]

Simmons gives us the much needed front court size. Dunn and DJJ can defend, but they have no business guarding skilled bigs like Markkanen, LBJ/Luka etc. I find it funny that DJJ's skinny @ss has been playing PF for us most of the season.

[esqtvd]

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Massive perennial hole at the 4. To be fair, there aren't too many good ones around. And with high-usage guys like Beard and Powell, a great fit--a guy who can put up numbers everywhere else.

Mann, KPJ and DJJ have tried their hand valiantly at filling the need, but 6'10" is 6'10". He took a lot of blame in Philly for wussing out on taking the key shot, but Embiid was supposed to do that and was the bigger p*ssy. With Kawhi, Norm, and Beard in the house, that won't be a problem.

[madmaxmedia]

Simmons gives us the much needed front court size. Dunn and DJJ can defend, but they have no business guarding skilled bigs like Markkanen, LBJ/Luka etc. I find it funny that DJJ's skinny @ss has been playing PF for us most of the season.

It amazes me that DJJ does as well as he does in the front court. But he seems to know how to really maximize his wingspan and hops at both ends of the floor.

[clipperlover]

We've got 7 straight road games when we come back next week.

Good thing Ballmer spent 2 billion dollars on our own arena so we don't have that horrible Grammy road trip anymore.

We can't look at it by just counting road games. Not a bad road trip at all.

The first 4 games are all within an hour flight of each other. 3 of the 4 are in the Central timezone.
Indy and Detroit is the only back to back of the entire road trip. Indy 5pm Sunday game, Detroit 7pm Monday game. More time between games than most back to backs.

Games 5 and 6 are both in Los Angeles, so the guys are sleeping at their own houses.

Game 7 is in Phoenix, so they are still on Pacific time.

After Phoenix, we play the next night at home.

[clipperlover]

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Massive perennial hole at the 4. To be fair, there aren't too many good ones around. And with high-usage guys like Beard and Powell, a great fit--a guy who can put up numbers everywhere else.

Mann, KPJ and DJJ have tried their hand valiantly at filling the need, but 6'10" is 6'10". He took a lot of blame in Philly for wussing out on taking the key shot, but Embiid was supposed to do that and was the bigger p*ssy. With Kawhi, Norm, and Beard in the house, that won't be a problem.

I understand the hate that fans have with Ben Simmons. Their team was paying him $30M+ and he didn't take the shot against Atlanta and he was hurt regularly.

However, we are getting him at a minimum rate, so it is low risk high reward. Simmons is a phenomenal talent. He is can still be a top defender. The Game 7 loss Philly had vs Atlanta featured 8/24 shooting from Tobias Harris and 8 Turnovers by Embiid. Simmons had 8 rbs and 13 assists with 2 turnovers and a steal.

Ultimately, I think the announcer's call did Simmons a disservice. Here is the play where people blamed him for not dunking:

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Appears to me that when Gallo knocked the ball away, Simmons was further under the backboard than the announcers thought and Simmons saw a more open teammate with a more direct angle. The guy had 13 assists in the game, so he had been finding open teammates all day. For years, we have watched Zu get caught too far under the basket, so he can't just go up and dunk.

[Ballings7]

Nice win, had to get this game

Great debut by Simmons -- he will continue to make an impact for this team, confident of that..

NP continues to play big-time, amazing

[madmaxmedia]

Ultimately, I think the announcer's call did Simmons a disservice. Here is the play where people blamed him for not dunking:

Watch on YouTube

Appears to me that when Gallo knocked the ball away, Simmons was further under the backboard than the announcers thought and Simmons saw a more open teammate with a more direct angle. The guy had 13 assists in the game, so he had been finding open teammates all day. For years, we have watched Zu get caught too far under the basket, so he can't just go up and dunk.

I actually had not noticed that he was that close to/under the basket, where he puts down his right foot looks literally inside the hoop cylinder. I think he still should have just gone up strong, but his decision making in the spur of the moment seems much more understandable.