After a year of injury, Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76s is finally fit and starting his NBA career.In the first two games of the pre-season, the Point Forward already hinted at his talent, but also revealed big gaps in his game.What do you expect from the rookie?
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“Oh, my God.I don’t want to see that for the next 15 years. They don’t talk too much about this boy.How he moves the ball, which overview he has and chooses his spots.If he finds the confidence in his litter, he has to be placed at the three-point line.Wow.He’s a huge talent.” (David Fizdale, grizzlies coach)
The first Philadelphia 76ers preseason match against the Memphis Grizzlies lasted less than ten seconds, and the Wells Fargo Center was already cheering.Markelle Fultz served the cutting number 25, which drowned the floater with his left hand in the basket,”Beeen Simmooons!!!
More than 15 months after the Australian put on the top of the sixers as the No. 1 pick, the Philly fans saw for the first time at NBA level, not only in the Summer League, what kind of player they actually got.A player who stands out in a squad dripping with talent.
A classic label is not appropriate at Simmons.This year’s No. 1-Pick Fultz delivered to Simmons after the rebound.Because it is now officially listed as Guard – with a magnificent 2.08 m.And that’s how his game presents itself.
If possible, the Sixers and Simmons try to switch quickly to Point.The grizzlies made the mistake of not putting the 2016 top pick in front of the midline.There are not many players who can stop me with ball in hand all over the court.I will be a walking mismatch,”Simmons said before the season.
With Richaun Holmes and Joel Embiid, the Sixers have mobile centers that can even lay down a hard sprint across the field and adapt to Simmons’ pace.Last season, the Sixers were in fifth place at the Pace and eighth place in the transition when it came to ball possessions.The Australian could intensify this effect, as he can also serve the free man with a passport over the entire court with pinpoint precision.
His coach, Brett Brown, was equally enthusiastic after the game:”I love his speed in the fast break, his ability to pull a basket, the speed at which he plays.Ben was more than a rookie today.”
So Simmons collected 9 assists in 22 minutes of playing time.However, he had problems with his degree.He took seven of his eight litters close to the basket, only two found their way into it.In any case, there must be a lot more if Simmons wants to follow up his words with deeds.
“My goal is to be the best in the league,”Simmons told ESPN.”I don’t look at the other rookies.I’m looking at the players who are already at the top of the league.Because that’s where I want to go,”he added.
It’s not for nothing that some experts compared LeBron James during his college years.A player who is so mobile with such a stature and has such an overview is almost impossible to find.But there was a little defiance in the voice.
In the traditional rookie poll, only three colleagues voted for the Australian at RotY or’ Which rookie will have the best career?’ A year is a long time after all, and there are still some question marks hanging over the personalie Simmons.
Can Simmons and Fultz stand on the court for a longer period of time at the same time or does the ball recital cause friction?What about his Jumper?Coach Brown already hinted that he could take the minutes of the two seasons.Simmons needs the right players for his way of playing and his non-existent throw,”Simmons changes our lineups on the court.We can’t have another player on the field without a range,”Brown explained.
In neither of the two games so far, Simmons took a threesome.Until now, his arsenal has been limited to floaters and hard drives.However, since every team knows that they have to change the route to the ring, the 19-year-old has already entered several offensive fouls.
It also weakened at the free-throw line (4/8 FT).Interesting: Simmons is actually right-handed, but throws with his left hand.There are already some voices demanding that he should change his throwing hand.Left hand or right hand: At some point he will have to prove that he is at least able to constantly wet free throws.
Otherwise the problems in the setplay will not get any less serious.Gab T. J.McConnell’s primary ball handler, the offense was much more fluid, there was more ball movement.Simmons, on the other hand, held the ball too long and tried to cancel the defensive action with a single pass, which meant that the execution was much more difficult, Simmons always looking for the highlight play and therefore prone to ball losses.
Surely these are all things that will improve with time and numerous repetitions, but it’s obvious that there are still big gaps in Simmons’ gameplay.Especially in the Defense the Sixers will try a lot with their rookie.
Against Boston, Simmons began to defend Jayson Tatum and meanwhile, Al Horford was also successful with some considerable success.In the second round, he tried to beat Kyrie Irving.There he lost out, but this was also due to the new Celtics star’s hot hand.Uncle Drew didn’t make it to the basket at all.
So the facilities are also there in this area, but Simmons would expect him to be a real two-way player in his rookie season, would be presumptuous.”That still takes time.I’m still learning the individual defensive positions,”said Simmons after the recent defeat of Boston.
This applies to the entire team.The mechanisms are not yet in place, which is a matter of course for the many young players and veterans such as JJ Redick or Amir Johnson, who need to be integrated.Defensively, Simmons weaknesses were not the only defensive weaknesses, his teammates also missed more than one rotation.
Freely adapted from Sam Hinkie, the former manager of the Sixers, it is a process.Embiid may be back at the start of the season, but Fultz will slowly get used to it after he changed his throwing mechanics in the summer.The Sixers are a great experiment, even with Simmons.They are young, wild, will make a lot of mistakes, but will also provide for some wow moments, the health of the actors always presupposed.
Robert Covington recently analysed Simmons in a way that could also be translated into the entire Sixers team:”He is so versatile, offensive and defensive.He’s a monster.He still doesn’t understand how good he really is.”