76ers HC Sees Ben Simmons as a Legit PG

[Snotbubbles]

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.

Who are you using as your example of Chris Paul guarding a 6'10" guy for the majority of a game? Simmons is allowed to pass the ball before setting up in the post.

[DusterBuster]

Jesus. There's nothing I hate more than when a HC starts a players career off in the NBA with him not playing his natural position.

[MiltownHawkeye]

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?

Because Paul is strong as **** for his size with a low center of gravity and quick hands. Good luck backing him down from the half-court line all the way to a position where Simmons can take advantage of his size. Point guards need to play face-up like...95% of the time they're on the court, at minimum. Putting the better PG defenders on Simmons would be a strip-fest. Sure, there'd be possessions where Simmons abuses the matchup. But you make it sound like you can base an entire offense around it.

You do know about the 5-second rule right?

[righterwriter]

The passing game between Saric and Simmons is going to wow a lot of people.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grhb4GVS5xA[/youtube]

[Unbreakable99]

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.

Simmons has a good handle. I think he has a better handle than LeBron did at the same age.

[Unbreakable99]

Jesus. There's nothing I hate more than when a HC starts a players career off in the NBA with him not playing his natural position.

Simmons' natural position is point forward. He has facilitated the offense pretty much his entire basketball career. He definitely looks and plays like a PG.

[DusterBuster]

Jesus. There's nothing I hate more than when a HC starts a players career off in the NBA with him not playing his natural position.

Simmons' natural position is point forward. He has facilitated the offense pretty much his entire basketball career. He definitely looks and plays like a PG.

He's going to have a much tougher learning curve imo.

[SkyHookFTW]

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.

If Embiid isn't cleared to play, no one has to worry about covering him.

[ItsThatEasy]

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.

Simmons has a good handle. I think he has a better handle than LeBron did at the same age.

I would agree, Simmons handle is far more conservative while LeBron came into the league emulating the Iverson type handles of that era. To his credit LeBron stopped the super flashy ball handling very early in his NBA career.

[sikma42]

I'd say the Lebron had s better handle as a rookie or even in high school. Better off hand and could get to his spots better on the floor using the dribble


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[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.

Simmons has a good handle. I think he has a better handle than LeBron did at the same age.

This is false. His handle is decent for a 6'10 guy. Odom had a far better handle, and Lebrons quickness and control with his, was in a different stratosphere. Antoine Walker also had a better handle, and similar passing instincts, but couldnt run point.. Dudes not a point

[Mik317]

why not try it at the very least.

not like we are going to contend. Its the same thing Orlando tried with Oladipo. It gets the player's creation and handle up to par longterm. Its all about development.

[LLJ]

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 problem is usually a:to ratio. Experiments tend to end quickly when more turnovers pile up than the points they give you as a quarterback.

[Magic Giannison]

I haven't caught any Summer League games yet, but as a point guard, him or Giannis??

One has already proven on an NBA level other just one game in summer league.
People say Giannis wasnt born to play pg which is wrong, he was playing PG in greece before coming here, the only reason he switched was because he needed time to adjust.
Dont get me wrong, Simmons can become great PG but no way he is better than Giannis right now at point.

[Jables]

His future is surely as a point forward, they just want an easy way out of finding enough minutes for Okafor, Saric, Simmons, Noel, Covington and Embiid up there. Elite passing and vision for sure though, handles are good enough, so not really a bad idea unless he's just not comfortable running the point guard position which he probably won't be.

[sfernald]

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.

Furthermore, he's the kind of player like Lebron and Wiggins who you want guarding the opponent's best player, whether that is a wing or power forward.

So for example if playing the GSW, he will guard either Durant or Green. If guarding the Cavs, Lebron obviously. If guarding Toronto, Demar. If guarding Clippers, Blake, etc. as the teams leader and best player, he should end asked to play lockdown D from the outset. I don't think he should guard the guards tho if they are the best player, for example Westbrook, Thomas, CP3, Curry, etc. Maybe at critical times at the end of game, etc.

He needs to learn what happens when he takes plays off while guarding Lebron. By guarding the best players, he will be motivated to bring it and can even pick up on their tricks as well and can incorporate them into his game.

See this guy is so good there's three things you really want from him.

1. Team leader (It seems he is a natural vocal leader from what I've seen so far)
2. Offensive facilitator. He's the engine that will make everything go. Give him the keys.
3. Lockdown defender. Guard other teams best player. Be a vocal, organizing defensive leader like KG or Noah.

These are the three things that if he works on and excels at he will be in the MVP voting every year.

[sfernald]

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.

Simmons has a good handle. I think he has a better handle than LeBron did at the same age.

This is false. His handle is decent for a 6'10 guy. Odom had a far better handle, and Lebrons quickness and control with his, was in a different stratosphere. Antoine Walker also had a better handle, and similar passing instincts, but couldnt run point.. Dudes not a point

Everything about him screams dominating point guard. Mostly it's his brain. The brain is the #1 thing that makes a good point guard. He controls the game out there so much like Lebron. His natural instincts and BBIQ are so high they're off the charts. He will be a top 15 "point guard" the second he plays in the NBA, whatever position people choose to call him.

[sikma42]

Simmons has a good handle. I think he has a better handle than LeBron did at the same age.

This is false. His handle is decent for a 6'10 guy. Odom had a far better handle, and Lebrons quickness and control with his, was in a different stratosphere. Antoine Walker also had a better handle, and similar passing instincts, but couldnt run point.. Dudes not a point

Everything about him screams dominating point guard. Mostly it's his brain. The brain is the #1 thing that makes a good point guard. He controls the game out there so much like Lebron. His natural instincts and BBIQ are so high they're off the charts. He will be a top 15 "point guard" the second he plays in the NBA, whatever position people choose to call him.

He doesn't do the little things point guards do to get to spots m or create angles. I'm not sure if he is even comfortable facilitating an offense.

Being a point guard is more than just running a pick and roll and throwing s couple of nice passes.


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[sfernald]

This is false. His handle is decent for a 6'10 guy. Odom had a far better handle, and Lebrons quickness and control with his, was in a different stratosphere. Antoine Walker also had a better handle, and similar passing instincts, but couldnt run point.. Dudes not a point

Everything about him screams dominating point guard. Mostly it's his brain. The brain is the #1 thing that makes a good point guard. He controls the game out there so much like Lebron. His natural instincts and BBIQ are so high they're off the charts. He will be a top 15 "point guard" the second he plays in the NBA, whatever position people choose to call him.

He doesn't do the little things point guards do to get to spots m or create angles. I'm not sure if he is even comfortable facilitating an offense.

Being a point guard is more than just running a pick and roll and throwing s couple of nice passes.


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Whatever he doesn't know he'll just have to learn. He's a smart guy and will figure it out. Having any other player controlling the ball the majority of the time will hurt the prospects of the team.

[CoreyGallagher]

He doesn't do the little things point guards do to get to spots m or create angles. I'm not sure if he is even comfortable facilitating an offense.

Being a point guard is more than just running a pick and roll and throwing s couple of nice passes.

He creates passing opportunities and seems quite comfortable doing so.

Below he looks off Luwawu's defender and perfectly delivers it into his pocket allowing him to go right into his shooting motion -


Rebounds it, surveys the break, and threads the needle to Luwawu in stride. If this wasn't delivered perfectly, Luwawu would have had to slow down and he would have likely been contested from behind -


We talk about players being a step ahead of others and this is what that looks like. He knew what he was going to do when he got this pass before others even knew he was getting it -


Speaking of getting to a spot and creating angles (too bad Holmes couldn't finish it) -

Better view

Spoiler:

[tweet]https://twitter.com/cjzero/status/750195581230997504[/tweet]

This was his debut game, ONE game.