76ers HC Sees Ben Simmons as a Legit PG

[Steven1562]

2nd coming of Magic?

[ItsThatEasy]

He's certainly a special talent at passing, but he doesn't have the handle or shooting ability to be a legitimate point guard.

He is not guarding any point guards either, which essentially means hes not a point guard.


To be fair, Magic Johnson should have been considered a point forward probably also, it's kind of arbitrary.

I wanted to hesitate on the Magic comp but it's really the most viable option here.

We're talking bringing the ball up court after a made basket by the other team, Simmons, LeBron and Magic are the only ones that immediately come to mind.

Even the prototypical "point forwards" operate from a specific area on the court or rebound and lead the break like Draymond and Blake Griffin.

If he's guarding 4's and 5's then I don't see the downside, it's not like PG's are going to be guarding him in return.

Grant Hill? There are centers who average as much assists as Lindsey Hunter did.

I like Simmons defending 4s while having a skilled SF alongside him because it forces a mismatch on offense.

Definitely forgot Grant, which isn't a bad comp in general for Simmons give or take some athleticism and height on both sides.

[bakesale]

I'm tired of hearing this. Do it. Stop talking about it and do it. I have never understood why more teams after Magic Johnson don't try this. It creates mismatches all over the floor and makes a team insanely difficult to defend.

The Bucks better do it with the greek but with them picking up delly they are going to chicken out.

I would kill to have a 6'8-7'0 pg.

The whole point of signing Delly was to run Giannis as a point forward. You still need a guy out there who can guard the opposing point guard, and on offense can space the floor. Delly is just a 3&D guy slotted at the 1.

Delly has been a pg his whole life. He wasn't 'slotted' at the 1, he is a 1. He was an excellent pg in college and there were even some cavs fans who liked his pg play.

[bakesale]

On the other end, what PGs would be able to guard Simmons? Steph Curry would be in foul trouble 2 minutes into the game trying to guard Simmons backing him down.

And Curry isn't guarding Luwawu or Stauskas because?

LOL. Did you even watch the NBA finals? Pick switch to get the matchup you want. But in any event, I'll play your game. Who on GS would you have guarding Simmons?

Draymond Green, the second best defender in the NBA. A man who can legit guard 1-5.

[Ferulci]

Why not ? They can afford to try for a few months and see how he does.

[Prez]

I'm tired of hearing this. Do it. Stop talking about it and do it. I have never understood why more teams after Magic Johnson don't try this. It creates mismatches all over the floor and makes a team insanely difficult to defend.

The Bucks better do it with the greek but with them picking up delly they are going to chicken out.

I would kill to have a 6'8-7'0 pg.

The whole point of signing Delly was to run Giannis as a point forward. You still need a guy out there who can guard the opposing point guard, and on offense can space the floor. Delly is just a 3&D guy slotted at the 1.

Delly has been a pg his whole life. He wasn't 'slotted' at the 1, he is a 1. He was an excellent pg in college and there were even some cavs fans who liked his pg play.

Sure, he can run the PnR occasionally. He's a combo guard with decent PG skills. But he's not someone you rely on to consistently create off the dribble. You can call it what you want but the point is Delly's main role here will be to lock down on opposing PGs, space the floor off-ball. His PG skills will likely be a fallback option unless we for some reason abandon using Giannis as a point forward.

[Snotbubbles]

And Curry isn't guarding Luwawu or Stauskas because?

LOL. Did you even watch the NBA finals? Pick switch to get the matchup you want. But in any event, I'll play your game. Who on GS would you have guarding Simmons?

You can still pick switch with Simmons when he has a 6'2" teammate. At least in this scenario the 6'2" teammate can guard the other team's PG so we don't have to put Simmons in that awkard situation.

And either Green or Durant, obviously.

You're ignoring the whole premise of the OP and the post I quoted. It's Simmons will play PG, not point forward. So when the question is posed, "How will Simmons guard the other teams PG?" The opposite question is "How will the other teams PG guard Simmons?"

Your answer is to put Green or Durant on Simmons. But, Simmons alternatively could just guard the 4 spot on defense, but that wasn't how the question was posed and what was being alluded to. It was that Simmons would play the PG, not point forward. So that means the Sixers would hypothetically put a lineup on the floor like:

C: Embiid
PF: Saric/Okafor
SF: Covington
SG: Luwawu
PG: Simmons

[ItsThatEasy]

LOL. Did you even watch the NBA finals? Pick switch to get the matchup you want. But in any event, I'll play your game. Who on GS would you have guarding Simmons?

You can still pick switch with Simmons when he has a 6'2" teammate. At least in this scenario the 6'2" teammate can guard the other team's PG so we don't have to put Simmons in that awkard situation.

And either Green or Durant, obviously.

You're ignoring the whole premise of the OP and the post I quoted. It's Simmons will play PG, not point forward. So when the question is posed, "How will Simmons guard the other teams PG?" The opposite question is "How will the other teams PG guard Simmons?"

Your answer is to put Green or Durant on Simmons. But, Simmons alternatively could just guard the 4 spot on defense, but that wasn't how the question was posed and what was being alluded to. It was that Simmons would play the PG, not point forward. So that means the Sixers would hypothetically put a lineup on the floor like:

C: Embiid
PF: Saric/Okafor
SF: Covington
SG: Luwawu
PG: Simmons

The actually slotting of the line up seems like semantics.

Will Simmons be guarding 4's? Yes
Will 4's be guarding Simmons? Yes

What separates this is Simmons actually running an offense from the perimeter out. Not running sets around him from the high post like Blake or Odom or even leading the break like a Barkley or Demarcus Cousins.

We're talking legitimately bringing the ball up court after a made basket and initiating the offense from the perimeter. That's a rarity from a 6'10 guy.

[Snotbubbles]

And Curry isn't guarding Luwawu or Stauskas because?

LOL. Did you even watch the NBA finals? Pick switch to get the matchup you want. But in any event, I'll play your game. Who on GS would you have guarding Simmons?

Draymond Green, the second best defender in the NBA. A man who can legit guard 1-5.

Who is guarding Embiid at center?
Who is guarding Okafor at PF?

Because the whole point of using Simmons at PG is so you can get those guys on the floor together.

[MiltownHawkeye]

He's certainly a special talent at passing, but he doesn't have the handle or shooting ability to be a legitimate point guard.

He is not guarding any point guards either, which essentially means hes not a point guard.


To be fair, Magic Johnson should have been considered a point forward probably also, it's kind of arbitrary.

On the other end, what PGs would be able to guard Simmons? Steph Curry would be in foul trouble 2 minutes into the game trying to guard Simmons backing him down.

It doesn't matter how good of a ball-handler or passer you are at 6'10+, if you're facing off against smaller, faster guards every single play you're going to get stripped a lot due to the higher dribble. It's not as simple as "just back the smaller defender down every play" as if the bigger player has an absolute advantage or that the other team can't gameplan for it.

[bakesale]

LOL. Did you even watch the NBA finals? Pick switch to get the matchup you want. But in any event, I'll play your game. Who on GS would you have guarding Simmons?

Draymond Green, the second best defender in the NBA. A man who can legit guard 1-5.

Who is guarding Embiid at center?
Who is guarding Okafor at PF?

Because the whole point of using Simmons at PG is so you can get those guys on the floor together.

Simmons you only use at pg on offence. He can't guard pgs, he'd only be able to guard pfs.

I think if the Warriors saw Simmons, Okafor and Embiid on court at once Curry, Klay and Durant will just laugh and have a field day with those bigs.

Okafor especially because he is slow enough as a centre... as a pf he'd get destroyed.

You're talking about the best team in the NBA against the worst if not second worst team. If Warriors didn't win by 30 I'd be shocked.

I'm looking forward to watching the 76ers this year but I hope Brown isn't foolish enough to put those 3 guys on the floor at once.

[HeartBreakKid]

LOL. Did you even watch the NBA finals? Pick switch to get the matchup you want. But in any event, I'll play your game. Who on GS would you have guarding Simmons?

You can still pick switch with Simmons when he has a 6'2" teammate. At least in this scenario the 6'2" teammate can guard the other team's PG so we don't have to put Simmons in that awkard situation.

And either Green or Durant, obviously.

You're ignoring the whole premise of the OP and the post I quoted. It's Simmons will play PG, not point forward. So when the question is posed, "How will Simmons guard the other teams PG?" The opposite question is "How will the other teams PG guard Simmons?"

Your answer is to put Green or Durant on Simmons. But, Simmons alternatively could just guard the 4 spot on defense, but that wasn't how the question was posed and what was being alluded to. It was that Simmons would play the PG, not point forward. So that means the Sixers would hypothetically put a lineup on the floor like:

C: Embiid
PF: Saric/Okafor
SF: Covington
SG: Luwawu
PG: Simmons

This is a really shallow way of looking at basketball defense, but even if we were to humor it.

If a 6'3 or lower good PG was versing a good 6'10 PG, and they had to guard each other from the perimeter, the smaller guy is going to come out on top. Chris Paul is probably not even 6 feet tall, but he would almost certainly do a better job guarding Simmons from the perimeter than vice versa. You have to realize that being 6'10 means that you're going to get stripped very easily against smaller players from beyond the 3 point line, and players like Simmons will have to turn their back to players which limits the type of plays he'd be able to do (not to mention, Simmons does not have a post game).

[Collie]

He's too weak minded to be a PG. He basically quit on the team when LSU said he needed to get his grades up. Rather than do whatever it takes, he folded like a fat chick on the 4th day of a diet.

Lol what does that have to do with anything? Sounds like an extremely salty post.

[Upperclass]

This isnt Lebron here.. Simmons' handle is very weak.. He would be stripped multiple times a game off of the bounce and in making passes. Opposing PG's would also just sag off and force him to shoot with his weak J. He's not a point. There is one 6'8 dude who can legit run point in the NBA for 48 minutes and thats Lebron.

[sixerswillrule]

LOL. Did you even watch the NBA finals? Pick switch to get the matchup you want. But in any event, I'll play your game. Who on GS would you have guarding Simmons?

You can still pick switch with Simmons when he has a 6'2" teammate. At least in this scenario the 6'2" teammate can guard the other team's PG so we don't have to put Simmons in that awkard situation.

And either Green or Durant, obviously.

You're ignoring the whole premise of the OP and the post I quoted. It's Simmons will play PG, not point forward. So when the question is posed, "How will Simmons guard the other teams PG?" The opposite question is "How will the other teams PG guard Simmons?"

Your answer is to put Green or Durant on Simmons. But, Simmons alternatively could just guard the 4 spot on defense, but that wasn't how the question was posed and what was being alluded to. It was that Simmons would play the PG, not point forward. So that means the Sixers would hypothetically put a lineup on the floor like:

C: Embiid
PF: Saric/Okafor
SF: Covington
SG: Luwawu
PG: Simmons

A) You're ignoring the issue of defending the other team's PG, which was posed to you first.

B) With Okafor at PF, that lineup is a terrible fit. Better with Saric but still there are issues.

C) Even in this hypothetical lineup, Durant or Green would guard Simmons (Durant if it's Okafor at PF). Curry on Luwawu and Klay on Covington. It's not that complicated.

[Collie]

This isnt Lebron here.. Simmons' handle is very weak.. He would be stripped multiple times a game off of the bounce and in making passes. Opposing PG's would also just sag off and force him to shoot with his weak J. He's not a point. There is one 6'8 dude who can legit run point in the NBA for 48 minutes and thats Lebron.

He just needs to have a serviceable handle. Magic had a "serviceable" handle and wasn't the best shooter, but his vision and instincts more than made up for it. In fact, he probably did most of his damage from the high post backing down smaller guards.

[Snotbubbles]

You can still pick switch with Simmons when he has a 6'2" teammate. At least in this scenario the 6'2" teammate can guard the other team's PG so we don't have to put Simmons in that awkard situation.

And either Green or Durant, obviously.

You're ignoring the whole premise of the OP and the post I quoted. It's Simmons will play PG, not point forward. So when the question is posed, "How will Simmons guard the other teams PG?" The opposite question is "How will the other teams PG guard Simmons?"

Your answer is to put Green or Durant on Simmons. But, Simmons alternatively could just guard the 4 spot on defense, but that wasn't how the question was posed and what was being alluded to. It was that Simmons would play the PG, not point forward. So that means the Sixers would hypothetically put a lineup on the floor like:

C: Embiid
PF: Saric/Okafor
SF: Covington
SG: Luwawu
PG: Simmons

This is a really shallow way of looking at basketball defense, but even if we were to humor it.

If a 6'3 or lower good PG was versing a good 6'10 PG, and they had to guard each other from the perimeter, the smaller guy is going to come out on top. Chris Paul is probably not even 6 feet tall, but he would almost certainly do a better job guarding Simmons from the perimeter than vice versa. You have to realize that being 6'10 means that you're going to get stripped very easily against smaller players from beyond the 3 point line, and players like Simmons will have to turn their back to players which limits the type of plays he'd be able to do (not to mention, Simmons does not have a post game).

Simmons would just back Paul down. Why would he settle for jumpers?

[Snotbubbles]

You can still pick switch with Simmons when he has a 6'2" teammate. At least in this scenario the 6'2" teammate can guard the other team's PG so we don't have to put Simmons in that awkard situation.

And either Green or Durant, obviously.

You're ignoring the whole premise of the OP and the post I quoted. It's Simmons will play PG, not point forward. So when the question is posed, "How will Simmons guard the other teams PG?" The opposite question is "How will the other teams PG guard Simmons?"

Your answer is to put Green or Durant on Simmons. But, Simmons alternatively could just guard the 4 spot on defense, but that wasn't how the question was posed and what was being alluded to. It was that Simmons would play the PG, not point forward. So that means the Sixers would hypothetically put a lineup on the floor like:

C: Embiid
PF: Saric/Okafor
SF: Covington
SG: Luwawu
PG: Simmons

A) You're ignoring the issue of defending the other team's PG, which was posed to you first.

B) With Okafor at PF, that lineup is a terrible fit. Better with Saric but still there are issues.

C) Even in this hypothetical lineup, Durant or Green would guard Simmons (Durant if it's Okafor at PF). Curry on Luwawu and Klay on Covington. It's not that complicated.

Then you have 6'9" David West on Embiid. I'll take that every day of the week.

EDIT: I'd also have Simmons challenge the 3 point line more aggressively to filter the guards inside so they are taking long 2s instead of threes. I'll take my chances that on the offensive end I'll shoot a higher percentage from inside 5 feet and at the FT line than your team will from 15-20 ft.

[HeartBreakKid]

You're ignoring the whole premise of the OP and the post I quoted. It's Simmons will play PG, not point forward. So when the question is posed, "How will Simmons guard the other teams PG?" The opposite question is "How will the other teams PG guard Simmons?"

Your answer is to put Green or Durant on Simmons. But, Simmons alternatively could just guard the 4 spot on defense, but that wasn't how the question was posed and what was being alluded to. It was that Simmons would play the PG, not point forward. So that means the Sixers would hypothetically put a lineup on the floor like:

C: Embiid
PF: Saric/Okafor
SF: Covington
SG: Luwawu
PG: Simmons

This is a really shallow way of looking at basketball defense, but even if we were to humor it.

If a 6'3 or lower good PG was versing a good 6'10 PG, and they had to guard each other from the perimeter, the smaller guy is going to come out on top. Chris Paul is probably not even 6 feet tall, but he would almost certainly do a better job guarding Simmons from the perimeter than vice versa. You have to realize that being 6'10 means that you're going to get stripped very easily against smaller players from beyond the 3 point line, and players like Simmons will have to turn their back to players which limits the type of plays he'd be able to do (not to mention, Simmons does not have a post game).

Simmons would just back Paul down. Why would he settle for jumpers?

He's going to back down Chris Paul from full court? He has to bring the ball over half court, then get into a position where he can actually back CP3 down.

And even if he did get to a reasonable close position, he probably can't, bigger men have tried and not really succeeded.

[sixerswillrule]

You're ignoring the whole premise of the OP and the post I quoted. It's Simmons will play PG, not point forward. So when the question is posed, "How will Simmons guard the other teams PG?" The opposite question is "How will the other teams PG guard Simmons?"

Your answer is to put Green or Durant on Simmons. But, Simmons alternatively could just guard the 4 spot on defense, but that wasn't how the question was posed and what was being alluded to. It was that Simmons would play the PG, not point forward. So that means the Sixers would hypothetically put a lineup on the floor like:

C: Embiid
PF: Saric/Okafor
SF: Covington
SG: Luwawu
PG: Simmons

A) You're ignoring the issue of defending the other team's PG, which was posed to you first.

B) With Okafor at PF, that lineup is a terrible fit. Better with Saric but still there are issues.

C) Even in this hypothetical lineup, Durant or Green would guard Simmons (Durant if it's Okafor at PF). Curry on Luwawu and Klay on Covington. It's not that complicated.

Then you have 6'9" David West on Embiid. I'll take that every day of the week.

Wouldn't it be West vs. Embiid regardless of what's going at the other 4 positions? If we're talking about how to create the best matchups at those 4 positions, I'm not sure how your post is relevent.