Kolkmania wrote:Agnostifarian wrote:If Simmons can only shoot with his right hand within eight feet of the basket, he's **** in the NBA. This is not something to gloss over. Other than grabbing a defensive rebound and pushing the ball, how is he going to be used? I feel much better about Saric's game.
And what is Saric's game? I really think he is a nice back-up stretch 4/5, but he's not going to handle the ball like some of us here expect. I personally love the intensity of Saric and if he continues to improve on his outside shooting he will become a valuable player, but I feel his impact is going to be overestimated on this board.
I have only seen Saric highlights and never watched a full game so I am not comfortable making an in depth analysis on his game. Further, I also suspect that some posters here are over estimating Saric's upside. However, Saric's reputation is that he is a solid rebounder with very good handles and excellent passing. He has also developed a jump shot even out to the 3 pt line. He is universally praised as playing with a high basketball IQ and outstanding hustle. Saric has also been playing with professionals for years and has not been coddled and hidden to protect his weaknesses. No doubt in my mind that Saric enters the NBA as a more productive player than Simmons in 2017. Simmons is more athletic than Saric but Simmons is untested as a defensive player. Neither player protects the rim.
From Kevin O'Conner's article previously posted by Sanford:
Simmons has attempted 265 non-jumpers so far this year. Despite being a left-handed shooter, only 10 of his non-jumpers were released with his left hand, 39 were with both hands, and 216 were with his right hand.
That equates to 96.2% of Simmons non jumpers are right handed.
Another fact from the article:
But Simmons still shoots left-handed jumpers. He's hit just 12 of his 35 jump shots, and often appears reluctant to pull the trigger even when defenses dare him to do so.That equates to 34.3% on mid range jump shots. Simmons has only taken three 3 pt shots all year making one. SIMMONS CAN'T POSSIBLY BE A STRETCH FOUR!!
Now, before anyone barks out, "Yeah, but why should Ben shoot jumpers when he so easily dominates in the paint?" Let's consider LSU's results. Has Simmons elevated his team's play? LSU is not expected to be one of the top 65 teams in Division I. No Tournament appearance. Blakeney, Hornsby and Victor are not scrubs. For all of Ben Simmons' talent handling the ball and distributing, his team is not good.
The 76ers have sucked for three years, at least. We don't have three more years to experiment with fitting another non shooting player into our rotation. I'm damn sure Saric will be more productive for us over the next few years than Ben Simmons. I would love a stretch 4 that is ready to play.
http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2016/2/16/10966798/ben-simmons-nba-draft-scouting-report-jump-shot“This may be one of the best jobs in basketball right now,” Colangelo said at a press conference introducing him as the new GM of the 76ers after Sam Hinkie resigned.
