Ben Simmons sit down interview with JJ Redick

[zimpy27]

He's right though. Why do people focus on Ben shooting so much?

Plenty of other max players are poor defenders and don't get nearly the same commentary and focus on their flaws. He gets hounded because he's excellent at things that casual viewers don't understand and bad at things they do understand.

I don't think this is why Simmons gets criticized. I think he gets criticized, and deservedly so, because he's gotten worse over the years, not better -- to the point where he was JAG in his last appearance in the playoffs for the Sixers.

2018 playoffs -- 12.5 FG attempts per game, 16.3 ppg, 70.7% FT%, 9.4 rpg
2019 playoffs -- 9.7 FG attempts per game, 13.9 ppg, 57.5% FT%, 7.1 rpg
2021 playoffs -- 7.9 FG attempts per game, 11.9 ppg, 34.2% FT%, 7.9 rpg

If you're a max guy, your team needs more from you than this, and you need to work on and improve your shortcomings -- not get defensive about them and act like everyone else is wrong.

Simmons actually had one of the best playoffs in terms of impact stats. Something that gets little attention but his plus-minus and the stats derived from it were elite that playoffs. Philly lost when he was off the floor.

[spikeslovechild]

Poor shooting can be hidden behind team shooting.

Ben isn't awful on offense, he's just not a shooter. He's one of the best shot creators in the NBA though.

Hope you was thinking about reg season. He's not only scared to shoot like Dray, he won't shoot because of mental aspect. Saying anything else is beyond laughable, tells more about you.

Track record matter.

Draymond averages 8.7 ppg for his entire career

Simmons does that on his worst day in his sleep

Ridiculous comparison

Draymond also sees the ball and holds the ball less in GSW offense.

Ben Simmons would hold the ball 5-8 seconds looking for a easy bucket close to the rim with Embiid stretching the floor close to the perimeter. I doubt Irving or Durant will put up with that. They both are going to want the ball in their hands.

How he functions basically mostly as a rim roller remains to be seen but I expect his PPG to drastically decline.

[MrDollarBills]

Hope you was thinking about reg season. He's not only scared to shoot like Dray, he won't shoot because of mental aspect. Saying anything else is beyond laughable, tells more about you.

Track record matter.

Draymond averages 8.7 ppg for his entire career

Simmons does that on his worst day in his sleep

Ridiculous comparison

Draymond also sees the ball and holds the ball less in GSW offense.

Ben Simmons would hold the ball 5-8 seconds looking for a easy bucket close to the rim with Embiid stretching the floor close to the perimeter. I doubt Irving or Durant will put up with that. They both are going to want the ball in their hands.

How he functions basically mostly as a rim roller remains to be seen but I expect his PPG to drastically decline.

KD and Kyrie need to buy into team basketball.

[sashaturiaf]

I'm really looking forward to seeing how Ben goes leading the second unit. I feel this is the area in which we missed Harden the most

Ben playing with 1 big and 3 shooters has the potential to be pretty lethal, especially since most of our shooters have some secondary playmaking ability. It definitely be a bench unit that other benches won't want to see.

[76ciology]

I listened (did not watch) the entire interview yesterday. I'm not as encouraged by it as many here are. IMHO, Simmons still seems fairly immature and inclined towards making excuses, blaming others for his problems and not taking responsibility for his actions. For example, when JJR asked him something like "what happened against Atlanta in the playoffs?", BS' answer was "we lost." Simmons had a terrible series vs Atlanta, and he had to know he was going to be asked about it -- but he still responded like a child.

He also spent much of the interview complaining about how people criticize his flaws but don't give him credit for his qualities. Well, that's what happens when you're a max player who refuses to improve your obvious shortcomings and get defensive when asked about it.

One thing I did like though was that he did seem genuinely excited about starting over here and about the possibilities this Nets team has. I just wish that I had come away from the interview thinking that BS has realized that he needs to fundamentally change his approach to the game, being a professional, etc. Unfortunately, the impression I get is that he thinks he got shafted in Philly and that he doesn't need to do anything different this time around. I hope I'm mistaken.

He's right though. Why do people focus on Ben shooting so much?

Plenty of other max players are poor defenders and don't get nearly the same commentary and focus on their flaws. He gets hounded because he's excellent at things that casual viewers don't understand and bad at things they do understand.

Because NBA is played like two different sports.

In regular season, Ben can be an asset with a lot of rucker park style of play.

But in the playoffs, the game slows down. Teams run a lot of zones and switching. Having Ben hurts your spacing. Imaging Durant or Kyrie getting doubled more. He is also a poor finisher on halfcourt against non PG length defense. And if he is fouled, he is unreliable at the line. All that while Ben’s defense is not draymond-esque that it can’t make up for it.

[MrDollarBills]

I listened (did not watch) the entire interview yesterday. I'm not as encouraged by it as many here are. IMHO, Simmons still seems fairly immature and inclined towards making excuses, blaming others for his problems and not taking responsibility for his actions. For example, when JJR asked him something like "what happened against Atlanta in the playoffs?", BS' answer was "we lost." Simmons had a terrible series vs Atlanta, and he had to know he was going to be asked about it -- but he still responded like a child.

He also spent much of the interview complaining about how people criticize his flaws but don't give him credit for his qualities. Well, that's what happens when you're a max player who refuses to improve your obvious shortcomings and get defensive when asked about it.

One thing I did like though was that he did seem genuinely excited about starting over here and about the possibilities this Nets team has. I just wish that I had come away from the interview thinking that BS has realized that he needs to fundamentally change his approach to the game, being a professional, etc. Unfortunately, the impression I get is that he thinks he got shafted in Philly and that he doesn't need to do anything different this time around. I hope I'm mistaken.

He's right though. Why do people focus on Ben shooting so much?

Plenty of other max players are poor defenders and don't get nearly the same commentary and focus on their flaws. He gets hounded because he's excellent at things that casual viewers don't understand and bad at things they do understand.

Because NBA is played like two different sports.

In regular season, Ben can be an asset with a lot of rucker park style of play.

But in the playoffs, the game slows down. Teams run a lot of zones and switching. Having Ben hurts your spacing. Imaging Durant or Kyrie getting doubled more. He is also a poor finisher on halfcourt against non PG length defense. And if he is fouled, he is unreliable at the line. All that while Ben’s defense is not draymond-esque that it can’t make up for it.

You're still thinking about him, huh?

[Rastas]

He's right though. Why do people focus on Ben shooting so much?

Plenty of other max players are poor defenders and don't get nearly the same commentary and focus on their flaws. He gets hounded because he's excellent at things that casual viewers don't understand and bad at things they do understand.

Because NBA is played like two different sports.

In regular season, Ben can be an asset with a lot of rucker park style of play.

But in the playoffs, the game slows down. Teams run a lot of zones and switching. Having Ben hurts your spacing. Imaging Durant or Kyrie getting doubled more. He is also a poor finisher on halfcourt against non PG length defense. And if he is fouled, he is unreliable at the line. All that while Ben’s defense is not draymond-esque that it can’t make up for it.

You're still thinking about him, huh?

Pretty sure Ben's late again for all that rent he has in his head.

[Paradise]

I listened (did not watch) the entire interview yesterday. I'm not as encouraged by it as many here are. IMHO, Simmons still seems fairly immature and inclined towards making excuses, blaming others for his problems and not taking responsibility for his actions. For example, when JJR asked him something like "what happened against Atlanta in the playoffs?", BS' answer was "we lost." Simmons had a terrible series vs Atlanta, and he had to know he was going to be asked about it -- but he still responded like a child.

He also spent much of the interview complaining about how people criticize his flaws but don't give him credit for his qualities. Well, that's what happens when you're a max player who refuses to improve your obvious shortcomings and get defensive when asked about it.

One thing I did like though was that he did seem genuinely excited about starting over here and about the possibilities this Nets team has. I just wish that I had come away from the interview thinking that BS has realized that he needs to fundamentally change his approach to the game, being a professional, etc. Unfortunately, the impression I get is that he thinks he got shafted in Philly and that he doesn't need to do anything different this time around. I hope I'm mistaken.

He's right though. Why do people focus on Ben shooting so much?

Plenty of other max players are poor defenders and don't get nearly the same commentary and focus on their flaws. He gets hounded because he's excellent at things that casual viewers don't understand and bad at things they do understand.

Because NBA is played like two different sports.

In regular season, Ben can be an asset with a lot of rucker park style of play.

But in the playoffs, the game slows down. Teams run a lot of zones and switching. Having Ben hurts your spacing. Imaging Durant or Kyrie getting doubled more. He is also a poor finisher on halfcourt against non PG length defense. And if he is fouled, he is unreliable at the line. All that while Ben’s defense is not draymond-esque that it can’t make up for it.

Ben hasn’t had a roster of elite shooting talent like this. Ever.

KD, Kyrie get doubled? Ben Simmons can pass to Curry, Harris, Mills, Sumner, O’Neale, Cam Thomas and eventually TJ Warren. I’ve heard some good things about DayRon Sharpe transforming into a shooting big in training camp but I do think we will end up looking for a guy like Muscala or something. PJ Tucker was high on top our list.

When did the Sixers ever value spacing since Simmons was drafted? Maybe the Sixers should’ve never dealt Covington, Saric, etc searching the need for a real star. It wasn’t necessary.

[MrDollarBills]

Ben looked like a good fit last night. I love how he stays within his game. He's excellent in transition.

[MrDollarBills]

Go check the Sixers board. These dudes are triggered hard right now that Ben is back playing