The Ben Simmons Megathread - Part III

[Kobblehead]

Sixers are 15th in fast break point per game and 25th is fast break efficiency. We're just not a transition team. Just another example of Ben not fitting with what we want to do.

I don't really get the logic there. We don't want to get out in transition?

If we've been a great defense over a 5 year stretch that generates a ton of takeaways and still are middle of the pack or worse in the transition, wouldn't you logically assume the fastbreak isn't a priority? Once Joel Embiid burst onto the scene, the whole "put a bunch of athletes on the floor and run" kinda stopped.

Gregg Popovich, Erik Spoelstra, and Quin Snyder don't seem to value the fastbreak, either.

[youngcrev]

Sixers are 15th in fast break point per game and 25th is fast break efficiency. We're just not a transition team. Just another example of Ben not fitting with what we want to do.

I don't really get the logic there. We don't want to get out in transition?

If we've been a great defense over a 5 year stretch that generates a ton of takeaways and still are middle of the pack or worse in the transition, wouldn't you logically assume the fastbreak isn't a priority? Once Joel Embiid burst onto the scene, the whole "put a bunch of athletes on the floor and run" kinda stopped.

Gregg Popovich, Erik Spoelstra, and Quin Snyder don't seem to value the fastbreak, either.

They're 8th in transition possessions. 10th last year. 5th the year before.

I don't think our big, slow starting lineup is built with transition buckets as a main focus, but I also don't think any coach is against getting out in transition in general. Attacking a defense before they get set is almost always going to be a means to getting a higher percentage shot.

[Hipster Doofus]

I wish Ben played the way he did in that one game against the Brooklyn Nets in the playoffs last year - where he was aggressive the whole game and took advantage of his size and speed. Completely ran them over.

In any case, not that this will happen since Horford is here, but wouldn't it be interesting to see Ben play power forward and have a true point guard run the team?

[Kobblehead]

I don't think our big, slow starting lineup is built with transition buckets as a main focus

Yeah, that's the point. Unfortunately, Ben is kinda left out to dry with the direction the team went in regards to team building.

But I'm not too shook up on it, because those fastbreak possessions dry up in games that matter, anyway. Ben not having the fastbreak crutch and being forced to face his own ineptitude in the halfcourt and seeing if he does something about it is probably for the best.

[Ferry Avenue]

In 34 clutch time minutes this season, Ben Simmons has:

- More TO (3) than made FG (2)
- 0 made FG in the half court
- Fewer assists (4) than Tobias Harris (5)
- 2 FT attempts
- a 12.2 usage rate

And this was the team's answer to losing Jimmy Butler for running the offense in the clutch, AND they went ahead and paid him on top of that!

My, what a mistake....

I don't really get the point of looking at his "clutch" numbers. He's a poor offensive player in the half court, so he rarely has the ball in his hands in those situations. It's not like thats anything ground breaking.

The point is that he has replaced Butler as the player the offense runs through in the clutch, and so his clutch performance becomes paramount. If the team had replaced Butler with someone else in that regard, it wouldn't matter.

[Bum Adebayo]

I wish Ben played the way he did in that one game against the Brooklyn Nets in the playoffs last year - where he was aggressive the whole game and took advantage of his size and speed. Completely ran them over.

In any case, not that this will happen since Horford is here, but wouldn't it be interesting to see Ben play power forward and have a true point guard run the team?

Easy to look good on offense against 'Angelo Russell & company, obviously he is not always going to have to score against traffic cones.

[youngcrev]

In 34 clutch time minutes this season, Ben Simmons has:

- More TO (3) than made FG (2)
- 0 made FG in the half court
- Fewer assists (4) than Tobias Harris (5)
- 2 FT attempts
- a 12.2 usage rate

And this was the team's answer to losing Jimmy Butler for running the offense in the clutch, AND they went ahead and paid him on top of that!

My, what a mistake....

I don't really get the point of looking at his "clutch" numbers. He's a poor offensive player in the half court, so he rarely has the ball in his hands in those situations. It's not like thats anything ground breaking.

The point is that he has replaced Butler as the player the offense runs through in the clutch, and so his clutch performance becomes paramount. If the team had replaced Butler with someone else in that regard, it wouldn't matter.

Then your point is just incorrect. Embiid and Harris are the guys they run through in the clutch.

[Jstock12]

At the time of the 2016 draft, I said that Simmons will be to Lebron what Kobe is to MJ. I was wrong. Luka Doncic is Lebron's Kobe. Simmons is a 6'10" Rondo. A good player for sure, but not an MVP candidate.

Rondo is 351/1105 (32%) from three in his career. Not sure if it's a great comparison. Ben is actually a pretty unique point guard, it's hard to come up with a good comp for him.

[XtremeDunkz]

At the time of the 2016 draft, I said that Simmons will be to Lebron what Kobe is to MJ. I was wrong. Luka Doncic is Lebron's Kobe. Simmons is a 6'10" Rondo. A good player for sure, but not an MVP candidate.

Rondo is 351/1105 (32%) from three in his career. Not sure if it's a great comparison. Ben is actually a pretty unique point guard, it's hard to come up with a good comp for him.

Unique as in the only player in NBA history to be literally scared to shoot the ball.

[youngcrev]

I don't think our big, slow starting lineup is built with transition buckets as a main focus

Yeah, that's the point. Unfortunately, Ben is kinda left out to dry with the direction the team went in regards to team building.

But I'm not too shook up on it, because those fastbreak possessions dry up in games that matter, anyway. Ben not having the fastbreak crutch and being forced to face his own ineptitude in the halfcourt and seeing if he does something about it is probably for the best.

Yeah, but it's not like the starters are playing that many minutes together. Only about 1/4 of his minutes on the floor have been with both Embiid and Horford.

The build of this team is just strange in general though. They went all in on overwhelming teams with their size without much regard for a plan B when that's not working for them.

[eagereyez]

At the time of the 2016 draft, I said that Simmons will be to Lebron what Kobe is to MJ. I was wrong. Luka Doncic is Lebron's Kobe. Simmons is a 6'10" Rondo. A good player for sure, but not an MVP candidate.

Rondo is 351/1105 (32%) from three in his career. Not sure if it's a great comparison. Ben is actually a pretty unique point guard, it's hard to come up with a good comp for him.

Unique as in the only player in NBA history to be literally scared to shoot the ball.

Markelle Fultz was afraid to shoot 3s his first two years. Now he is letting it fly.. and shooting 19%. At least he is willing to shoot them. He has more confidence than Ben Simmons.

[XtremeDunkz]

Rondo is 351/1105 (32%) from three in his career. Not sure if it's a great comparison. Ben is actually a pretty unique point guard, it's hard to come up with a good comp for him.

Unique as in the only player in NBA history to be literally scared to shoot the ball.

Markelle Fultz was afraid to shoot 3s his first two years. Now he is letting it fly.. and shooting 19%. At least he is willing to shoot them. He has more confidence than Ben Simmons.

I would 100% rather have Kelle right now.

[Eyeamok]

Unique as in the only player in NBA history to be literally scared to shoot the ball.

Markelle Fultz was afraid to shoot 3s his first two years. Now he is letting it fly.. and shooting 19%. At least he is willing to shoot them. He has more confidence than Ben Simmons.

I would 100% rather have Kelle right now.

I'm down on Simmons right now but not that down. Give me until the all star break and if he is still the same player I might be singing the praises of Fultz over Simmons too.

[Ferry Avenue]

Unique as in the only player in NBA history to be literally scared to shoot the ball.

Markelle Fultz was afraid to shoot 3s his first two years. Now he is letting it fly.. and shooting 19%. At least he is willing to shoot them. He has more confidence than Ben Simmons.

I would 100% rather have Kelle right now.

Terry Rozier was the guy to go get. 17.4 PPG and 36% beyond the arc right now, and can beat you off the dribble and play defense. Simmons should've been moved to the 4, with no Horford.

[Mik317]

Rozier is trash
wtf

[XtremeDunkz]

Markelle Fultz was afraid to shoot 3s his first two years. Now he is letting it fly.. and shooting 19%. At least he is willing to shoot them. He has more confidence than Ben Simmons.

I would 100% rather have Kelle right now.

Terry Rozier was the guy to go get. 17.4 PPG and 36% beyond the arc right now, and can beat you off the dribble and play defense. Simmons should've been moved to the 4, with no Horford.

Simmons CANT play the 4. I need this entire board to understand this. Simmons as is can not be on the floor AT ALL if we want a consistently effective offense. It doesnt matter what position he plays. He is not a threat to do anything therefor he makes the other 4 guys jobs harder regardless of what he is or where he plays.

[Kobblehead]

Terry Rozier was the guy to go get. 17.4 PPG and 36% beyond the arc right now, and can beat you off the dribble and play defense. Simmons should've been moved to the 4, with no Horford.

Yeah, but that gamble was just too risky to even think about taking.

Rozier was a godawful player in regards to his efficiency up until this point. Who would have guessed he'd go from a 40% true shooting guy all the way up to 55% this year?

[Ferry Avenue]

I would 100% rather have Kelle right now.

Terry Rozier was the guy to go get. 17.4 PPG and 36% beyond the arc right now, and can beat you off the dribble and play defense. Simmons should've been moved to the 4, with no Horford.

Simmons CANT play the 4. I need this entire board to understand this. Simmons as is can not be on the floor AT ALL if we want a consistently effective offense. It doesnt matter what position he plays. He is not a threat to do anything therefor he makes the other 4 guys jobs harder regardless of what he is or where he plays.

What about at center?

[Kobblehead]

Simmons CANT play the 4. I need this entire board to understand this. Simmons as is can not be on the floor AT ALL if we want a consistently effective offense. It doesnt matter what position he plays. He is not a threat to do anything therefor he makes the other 4 guys jobs harder regardless of what he is or where he plays.

#smallballC

The key to salvaging Ben Simmons in the halfcourt is playing him at the 5 with no other bigs on the floor.

On the ball:
With 5 guys outside the arc, he'd have wide open driving lanes.

Off the ball:
He'd be utilized as a screen and roller catching lobs from ball handlers.

[sodmoraes]