The Ben Simmons Megathread

[sweetlou23]

Duncan, Parker and Ginobli have done more than any trio in the modern age. Saying that Parker and Ginobli were just allstars kind of sells them short.

[bedjawII]

Nash and Dirk on the Mavs? Although their real career highlights came later for both of them.
Honorable mention to Divac and Peja on the Kings.

Duncan - Virgin Islands
Parker - France
Ginobli - Argentina

Parker and Ginobli weren’t franchise players though. They were just all stars.

Still, it’s another close example.


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That’s so funny how two HoFers are just all stars. Only someone looking at stats says that. They were both transcendent players who cared about one thing. Championships.

[Ericb5]

Duncan - Virgin Islands
Parker - France
Ginobli - Argentina

Parker and Ginobli weren’t franchise players though. They were just all stars.

Still, it’s another close example.


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That’s so funny how two HoFers are just all stars. Only someone looking at stats says that. They were both transcendent players who cared about one thing. Championships.

I specifically was talking about franchise players, and there are loads of people in the hall of fame that aren’t franchise players.

I’m not dismissing them. You need 3 stars to compete, and they were both stars.


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[Simmons25]

Parker and Ginobli weren’t franchise players though. They were just all stars.

Still, it’s another close example.


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That’s so funny how two HoFers are just all stars. Only someone looking at stats says that. They were both transcendent players who cared about one thing. Championships.

I specifically was talking about franchise players, and there are loads of people in the hall of fame that aren’t franchise players.

I’m not dismissing them. You need 3 stars to compete, and they were both stars.


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Agreed I definitely wouldn't have Tony Parker or Manu Ginobli as a franchise or even transcendent players.

Neither of those are going to a bad team and turning them into a team you can build championships around with other players. Without a real "franchise" talent Tim Duncan I am sorry but Parker and Ginobli weren't winning squat.

[Kobblehead]

Manu was definitely a franchise player. He sacrificed a superstar reputation to stack championships. Check his advanced metrics against the other top players in the league during his peak years. Top 10 player in a few seasons.

[Unbreakable99]

Manu was definitely a franchise player. He sacrificed a superstar reputation to stack championships. Check his advanced metrics against the other top players in the league during his peak years. Top 10 player in a few seasons.

He couldn’t be the best player on a championship team though.

[Kolkmania]

I'd love to see Ben Simmons work with Drew Hanlen this offseason. This guy is the master of teaching subtle moves to create space with nifty moves to set up a driving lane or pull up jumper. He would also benefit massively with his footwork and initiating contact around the rim.

If you read this Joel, drag Ben with you when you're meeting Drew Hanlen the next time.

[Jams60]

.Simmons will lead a huge resurgence in Australian basketball and interest in the NBA. In the mid 80s till mid 90 it was on fire here, in fact during the time Dave Simmons (Bens dad) was a star here. Jordan then led NBA fever here during his time at the top.
Despite having a record number of players in the NBA over recent years, winning a heap of titles, and having a number of good players, Bogut, Mills, Baynes etc none have been THE player in a team. They have more been the bit player.
Simmons on the other hand is the first Aussie player that will control the destiny of his team, (apologies to JoJo) and put up numbers like Jordan, Magic and Lebron. Remember he was the first Aussie to ever make a triple double.

We write it here and the next day an article appears in the ABC saying the same thing. Perhaps they read this forum.
Simmons will lift basketball through the roof in Australia if he turns into the player we think he will. An interesting read for Aussies and for Americans who mightn’t understand that basketball is not one of the major sports in Australia at the moment.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-06/in-the-shadow-of-the-glory-days-signs-of-life-in-the-nbl-hinds/9120672

[Jams60]

https://pickandroll.com.au/can-ben-simmons-actually-make-the-nba-all-star-team/
Here is another lengthy Aussie article arguing the case for Simmons to be included in the all star game. I’ll leave it to others to dissect the article and it’s opinions as I don’t have the breadth of knowledge to even begin.

[Simmons25]

https://pickandroll.com.au/can-ben-simmons-actually-make-the-nba-all-star-team/
Here is another lengthy Aussie article arguing the case for Simmons to be included in the all star game. I’ll leave it to others to dissect the article and it’s opinions as I don’t have the breadth of knowledge to even begin.

There is a tendency for Australian media to get a bit homerish when it comes to their own which I personally can't stand. I remember when Bogut was in the playoffs with Golden State it was cringeworthy to see them sending Aussie reporters over who obviously knew nothing about basketball to the NBA locker rooms to ask questions which of course Bogut would pull the piss out of. There would be questions like "Have you had dinner with Patty Mills???" during the San Antonio series.

Simmons is a chance if his play holds up, but it's a bit early to start writing articles about him making the all-star game in 3 months.

[phiphan]

One weird stat shows how little Ben cares about his individual stats vs. team success: # of heaves. He already has 5 this season. At that pace (45 for season) he'll take more than Westbrook, Paul, Durant, Harden, and George combined in their careers. Steph Curry shoots them more than any other star and he's only taken 40 in his career.

Yea small sample size etc, but kind of fun.

[76ciology]

One weird stat shows how little Ben cares about his individual stats vs. team success: # of heaves. He already has 5 this season. At that pace (45 for season) he'll take more than Westbrook, Paul, Durant, Harden, and George combined in their careers. Steph Curry shoots them more than any other star and he's only taken 40 in his career.

Yea small sample size etc, but kind of fun.

He likes taking them. He probably knows he has the same percentage with heaves and him actually taking threes

[76ciology]

I dont know if you guys notice. But Ben's skyhook is pretty promising, specially off that interior PnR with Biid. If help defense comes then he can easily kick it to shooters

[Unbreakable99]

One weird stat shows how little Ben cares about his individual stats vs. team success: # of heaves. He already has 5 this season. At that pace (45 for season) he'll take more than Westbrook, Paul, Durant, Harden, and George combined in their careers. Steph Curry shoots them more than any other star and he's only taken 40 in his career.

Yea small sample size etc, but kind of fun.

Ben will learn. You can’t take last second heaves and mess up your shooting percentage. That’s not the NBA way. It’s about stats lol. Just kidding. I hate seeing so many players not shoot it. So dumb. You should always try to shoot because you just might make it. Don’t give up just to protect your shooting percentage.

[Unbreakable99]

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[phillybird]

Question: Do you think if Ben had played last year, would he be playing at the same or close to level that he is now? Or did that year in the NBA, learning the game from the sidelines and practice benefit him to the point where he can play this well?

[phiphan]

I think he would be playing at a much higher level. There is no substitute for NBA game experience.

[crazy_me_87]

I think he would be playing at a much higher level. There is no substitute for NBA game experience.

Exactly.. You see it with Joel.. he had 2 years of watching and Training, learning and while he plays at a great Level he still makes Rookie mistakes..understandable because he just basically has played 1 half Season.

[Ericb5]

I think he would be playing at a much higher level. There is no substitute for NBA game experience.

Agreed. I think that he is better this year than he would have been last year since he had the year of learning about the league last year even though he wasn't playing.

However, had he played last year, he would be better today.

[crazy_me_87]

I dont know if you guys notice. But Ben's skyhook is pretty promising, specially off that interior PnR with Biid. If help defense comes then he can easily kick it to shooters

All those hooks, runners and "weird" shots alot of people thought looked weird and inneffective are actually pretty effective.
It speaks to his touch and feel for the Game mostly that he is able to constantly make shots most people just cannot make.

He could be the Steph Curry of the Paint^^ .. Takes and makes shots where every other player is benched for even considering taking it..