The Ben Simmons Megathread - Part IV

[Zumramania]

Is it possible that Ben intentionally tanked his value, knowing that he might be traded to the rebuilding Rockets?

[Jhawk03]

If anyone else besides Morey was in charge, the deal would've been done. That's the bottom line. Now moving forward with Ben, he really is in charge of his future, because contrary to popular opinion, he likes where is for now. Consider that 24yr old Ben was discussed being worth a top 5 recent mvp Harden straight up at one point. That ceiling is high, regardless of how it played out.

[76ciology]

Is it possible that Ben intentionally tanked his value, knowing that he might be traded to the rebuilding Rockets?

Likely not.

I find that Doc just accepts Ben for who he is.

Starting unit, Biid centric offense.
Biid off the floor, Shake and Maxey PnR.
End games, Ben at the dunker spot

Ben is just the chief in transition and second line of defense.

[51X3RF4N]

What is scary to me is that it appears at least that every season Ben has gotten worse on offense and less aggressive. He seems like he can't handle the pressure to perform or the critics taking shots at his unwillingness to take shots.

Sure his defense is elite and versatile.

But not only is he showing less and less ability to score, he's also showing less and less ability to make the right pass, and that's VERY concerning.

If he can't make plays in the passing game, and can't shoot or score, what is he?

Whoever taught him to jump in the air doing a 180 so his back is to the basket as he hopes to find an open man should be shot into space. That is a terrible habit, and completely unnecessary. Teams know just to stick to their own man now, and those passes are getting deflected or outright stolen.

If I never see him do that again, he is already 10x a better player.

His elite skills are not being properly showcased and his once average to below average skills are looking piss poor or non-existant.

I don't know what needs to happen to fix this, but it's going to be Embiid's downfall.

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[Bum Adebayo]

We've already fixed our biggest issue by far, which was having Brett Brown coddling Simmons. The issues left are minor issues that can be fixed organically. I think Embiid is improved already to where I am confortable to say he is ready for playoffs, what's missing is Ben taking the giant leap we all know he is capable of, all of our hopes depend on Simmons doing that, and yesterday was the day there was a massive change, this was a different Simmons, trying to shoot the ball. It is evident the ghost of Brett is far from him now, his mind is starting to be free from the demons of the past. It's all uphill from here.

[PhillyPhilly]

Ben will never be a competent shooter as long as he continues to dunk, pass, do lay-ups, hook shot, dribble with his right hand but shoot with his left. He will never get past that barier because what he's doing is unique to him only. Lebron and Westbrook are left-handed but shoot right-handed but the difference is they do everything else right-handed too and they've been that way since they were kids so it's ingrained into them. Ben has a right handed hook shot that with a few tweeks could be a midrange jumper...but he just cannot get over this hump and it's killing his game year after year. You can't do evetything naturally with your right hand then in the flow of a play you have to think about switching hands to shoot and how you jump, bend your elbow etc...it's not normal and it never will be.

[Bum Adebayo]

What is evident is that he cannot improve his shot without attempting to shoot in actual games. I think it is up to him to find the best form and ways to shoot, but we need him to keep spaming shots, the more he shoots, the better his shot will be in 2 years. We cannot waste more time, his true development has to start now.
The only goal is championship in 2023, everything else is irrelevant as long as we are on track.

[shlo]

If anyone else besides Morey was in charge, the deal would've been done. That's the bottom line. Now moving forward with Ben, he really is in charge of his future, because contrary to popular opinion, he likes where is for now. Consider that 24yr old Ben was discussed being worth a top 5 recent mvp Harden straight up at one point. That ceiling is high, regardless of how it played out.

Really? He was being discussed in a trade for a guy who was forcing his way out of town and part of a package that included other players and a ton of picks. We're not talking a 1:1 here.

[76ciology]

Read on Twitter

Love this guy

[Ferry Avenue]

I think we've fully arrived at the time when Simmons should be out of the starting lineup.

[6ers83]

You won’t get much for Ben but he needs to go it’s just a huge drag on this team and the players know it.

[Samson]

So not sure if this is news or was already covered - I could be repeating something you guys have discussed at length already but , just for the sake of anyone who didn't read it -

CBSSports.com is reporting that Keith Pompey has been told/reporting that Ben Simmons (and Matisse Thybulle) were told that the trade was going down and to start packing. Basically stating that it was the 76ers belief that they had a deal and Houston reneged, asked for more, then traded to Brooklyn anyway.

I am glad, as I am a big Simmons fan and as amazing as Harden is, I think Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid can be a dynasty if they decide to be. (Especially with Tobias Harris as the third-wheel and the role players we've brought in.)

[Bum Adebayo]

Trading Ben is fine if you can get an all level scorer like beal or Lavine for him, but sadly it looks like this won't happen and he has less value these days. So we just need to morph him into a beast, develop his shot and his attacking game, and in 2023 all the GM that didn't want to trade for him will look dumb when he is tearing the league.

[6ers83]

Go you YouTube and watch Highlights of Magic Johnson, Isaiah Thomas, Mo Cheeks, John Stockton, Kevin Johnson, etc..these guys set up people for easy baskets - Ben Simmons does not do any of that - maybe one time a game. He is not some type of a play maker like people think.

He dribbles the basketball up the **** court and people think he’s a point guard.

[76ciology]

This is the scenario ive mentioned before.

Ben would be forced out of this team if the Harden deal didnt happen (thats why i said we need to put Ben on the table).

There will just going to be too much pressure.

If we dont trade him and this thing continues, he’s going to ask to be traded.

Imagine how louder it’s going to be once we have our first or second round exit.

[Black Mage]

Read on Twitter

Love this guy

I'd be more impressed if he allowed us to donate $100 each to charity for the chance to chuck a basketball at his face.

[76ciology]

Read on Twitter

Love this guy

I'd be more impressed if he allowed us to donate $100 each to charity for the chance to chuck a basketball at his face.

He’s the Green Goblin

[shlo]

Go you YouTube and watch Highlights of Magic Johnson, Isaiah Thomas, Mo Cheeks, John Stockton, Kevin Johnson, etc..these guys set up people for easy baskets - Ben Simmons does not do any of that - maybe one time a game. He is not some type of a play maker like people think.

He dribbles the basketball up the **** court and people think he’s a point guard.

100% agree! He's not a good point guard. He doesn't set anybody up. He's opportunistic in transition and that's about it. You can't win a championship with this guy. Can't do it.

[Stanford]

Read on Twitter

You can tell Detrick knows he's losing this battle, rapidly.

[Black Mage]

I have to say, it's amazing reading local media and on this boards how fast people turned on Simmons only AFTER the trade didn't happen. It's like seeing what Houston took over Simmons woke them up from their fantasy land of bad takes on Ben's abilities.