Welcome Simmons

[kriss73]

Giving how long the man of action is holding out guys to make a trade, I think we have a deal in place for Simmons.

Maybe Asik+Anijca and a top-55 protected pick are on the table.

[GWPhilly34]

Brett Brown on WIP saying "he fully expects SImmons to play this year" and leaving it completely up to management if he plays or not. Sickening what this management team is doing.

[SparksFly87]

Guys like TJ , Saric and Covington makes Simmons job alot easier no matter where you plug him. Watching these role players develop is a joy to watch. This is how you build a team. Simmons can play 3 with Saric. 4 with Covington or in a line up with both. Mcconell is a more than capable back up point guard to have with Simmons.

[JamesConway]

Read on Twitter

Both Brown and Simmons are in favor of the 6-foot-10, 240-pound point guard/forward making his NBA debut this season, sources told ESPN. However, the decision ultimately rests with the Sixers management.

(...) Brown told ESPN that Simmons is running, jumping and cutting but hasn't been cleared for contact. Brown has been training Simmons in individual workouts, and the player also has been doing 5-on-0 drills.

Brown reiterated that Simmons won't be doing any 5-on-5 work over the All-Star break, largely because the players are out of town and it would be difficult to simulate.

"I think he looks good -- even though it's 5-on-0," Brown said. "He's got a great spirit, attitude. The plan is to heal him up, treat him with complete care and then deliver him to the court."

[thenbaman]

If he is not fully healed and ready to play right now there is a very big problem with simmons
it takes every other player with the same injury 2 1/2 months to be back on the court and playing
again.

[Unbreakable99]

Giving how long the man of action is holding out guys to make a trade, I think we have a deal in place for Simmons.

Maybe Asik+Anijca and a top-55 protected pick are on the table.

Huh?

[kriss73]

Giving how long the man of action is holding out guys to make a trade, I think we have a deal in place for Simmons.

Maybe Asik+Anijca and a top-55 protected pick are on the table.

Huh?

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[LongLiveHinkie]

After they keep putting out there every other week that they think he's gonna play, he better play. If not, this will have been a total disgraceful charade to sell tickets and string the fans along.

[eagereyez]

Here is why I believe the Sixers won't play him. There is no time left and we are on the road for 1.5 weeks during the prime time for him to come back. No home games for him to make his debut.

The All-Star break ends Feb 24. Brett Brown said he needs AT LEAST 5 sessions of 5 on 5 basketball. Lets assume he does 7 scrimmages. They won't be day after day... so really you are looking at 2 weeks MINIMUM of 5 on 5 before is able to play... absolute best case scenario.

So where does that take us. 11th March. Take a look at our schedule. We are on the road for 9 days straight from March 7th until March 16.

Does anyone think Simmons is going to his debut anywhere other than in Philadelphia? Of course not. That basically leaves us with 2 opportunities:

* March 6 againt the Bucks at home (Only 10 days after the all-star break.... and remember Brett says he needs "More than 5 x 5 on 5 scrimmages before he can play". So no way in hell.
* March 17 against Mavs at home.

March 17 is more likely but is it worth it? Only 15 games remaining in the year at that stage and 2 back to backs... means he will get in 13 games maximum.

I reckon they've looked at the schedule and gone too tight and not enough benefit to get out of bringing him back in for only those 13 games. We will see though.

This is one of the only conspiracy theories that actually makes sense. Colangelo is too dumb to tank, but he does care about ticket sales and ROY awards.

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[snoopdogg88]

how has no one in the media asked the Sixers WHY Simmons isn't healthy yet after being out for a historical amount of time for this injury?

that would be my #1 concern.

[KKell2507]

how has no one in the media asked the Sixers WHY Simmons isn't healthy yet after being out for a historical amount of time for this injury?

that would be my #1 concern.

This has been my thought as well. I get it, hes not ready to play 5 on 5. BUT WHY IS HE NOT READY TO PLAY 5 ON 5? Is there still swelling around his foot? Is he sore after working out still? Did the surgery cause him to develop a 6th toe which he has to take extra time to get used to walking on? Does he have trouble tying his shoes because his foot grew bigger after the surgery? Did he sprain his ankle on the same foot while raising the cat which has caused a setback?

Like it blows my mind that we cant get simple info just to let us know what is up with him. "Hes coming along at our slow pace." is very obvious considering its been 5 months. But what can he not do according to the Sixers standards yet that is causing him to continue to be out? It shouldnt be an earth shattering question to ask or them to answer, just to provide simple clarity.

[LongLiveHinkie]

It won't matter what the reporters ask tbh. They are dead set on not answering anything and that's just how it's going to be. He will deflect, avoid, or give a BS answer.

[Simmons25]

I was just forwarded this article about Simmons which just came out that has a few interesting things in it. It's an interview with Simmons godfather that he is very close too, and who also happened to be the LSU assistant coach last year... and has some insight as to what is going on.

https://pickandroll.com.au/david-patrick-college-talent/

The first thing I found interesting is the Assistant Coach at LSU for the first time it confirms something I had said months ago about his Simmons time at LSU. That team morale at LSU was bad and that players resented his popularity especially those with seniority within the team.

It meshes in with some statements Simmons made during the LSU season about having to give up aspects of his game to allow others in the team (eg: Quarterman) to play in their preferred position as he could be more flexible and play other positions (Quarterman can't shoot and couldn't play the 2.. and Quarterman was one of the main jealous cry babies... even freezing Simmons out on plays)... and ultimately Simmons and Rich Paul getting frustrated with Simmons being frozen out of games.

While being careful in his choice of words, Patrick did share some thoughts on his godson’s documentary, One & Done.
“In speaking as a coach, it’s a tough deal to have a camera following the family, the team, every day,” shared Patrick. “However it was good for Ben. The camera did not affect him at all.”

“You have to understand that he had a lot of interest, with the cameras and the hype, following him since his time at Montverde. He was used to it. However, his team mates were not. I think that could have impacted the team adversely. There was a bit of jealousy and stuff happening within the team.”

More importantly though I did find this stuff very interesting on Ben's potential comeback this year.

When asked as to when he thought Simmons would be able to return from injury, he advised things were looking promising.

“I know he wants to get back on the floor after the All-Star break,” Patrick confirmed, explaining he had talked to Simmons over the phone recently. “As you have heard, he is back training and things are going well so far.”

“People need to remember that he is still a young kid. As much as he wants to play, he needs to look after himself and recognise it’s a business. Mentally, he does not want to sit out.”

Patrick was in no doubt as to what influence Simmons would have on the 76ers, when he does return from his injury.
“He can and will make an immediate impact. They are one playmaker short, and he will take on a lot of the playmaking responsibility.”

I think that's quite promising as Dave Patrick is very close to Simmons... so virtually out of Simmons mouth. Seems Ben really wants to play badly after the all-star break... and that it's looking promising. Got more out of 1 paragraph in an interview than Colangelo has given us all year.

[DavidLee]

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2017/02/15/brett-brown-ben-simmons-play/
Colangelo: “And as of right now that is not the case and that is why we do not have a timeline. And I cannot best guess what that timeline is, because the doctors cannot best guess that.”

What doctors? If he is fully healed (and he should long be by now) there should be green light from the doctors. So was there a setback or are the team officials holding him back and talking s***?

[snoopdogg88]

Exactly. How is he not healthy after almost 5 months of being out for a 12 week injury?

It's illogical unless they are hiding a setback

[AdotSmoove]

Exactly. How is he not healthy after almost 5 months of being out for a 12 week injury?

It's illogical unless they are hiding a setback

Given the shades of truth we have come to expect from the FO, I don't think it's realistic to believe that Simmons is not medically cleared to play. However it may be a possibility that team doctors said that the bone will continue healing for many more months. This is not the same as saying the bone is not healed, which they haven't come out and directly said. This is why I love BB fielding questions rightfully belonging to BC because BB lets "verbal leaks" spill all over the place. His recent comment "coming along at a slow pace, our pace" suggests that the pace of progress does not relate to Simmons as much as it does to the Sixers. Now, guessing why they are holding him out is still completely speculative. Could be extreme caution. Could be that when Simmons returns Okafor would literally only have DNP's and that's a harder sell in a trade. Could be that BC wants him competing for ROY. Hell it could even be that Simmons covets the opportunity to win ROY. Point is, if there was a setback, BB would have said something to the effect of Simmons is progressing at his own pace and every body is different. He did not say that though, he essentially said Simmons is progressing at "our pace" and that BB has no idea what that pace is.

Could be totally off but as a career negotiator that deals with representatives and spokespeople all day, that's how it reads.


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[mithrandir17]

I hate it when we have to slice and analyze each response of BB to get answers. Why don't they just answer the questions directly.

[AdotSmoove]

I hate it when we have to slice and analyze each response of BB to get answers. Why don't they just answer the questions directly.

I guess there could theoretically be some benefit to keeping quiet league wide but it sure it sure is annoying. I guess the answer to the "why" question is probably the same answer to why Public Relations is offered as a college degree. It is a shame though.


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[OleSchool]

Just another theory to throw in the pot but, maybe they're keeping him out to work on his shot, and its not where they hoped/expected it to be right now

[Sixerscan]

Just another theory to throw in the pot but, maybe they're keeping him out to work on his shot, and its not where they hoped/expected it to be right noe

If they let tony wroten shoot 5 3s a game I think they would be cool with Simmons not being Ray Allen yet.