Quote

Even on a team layered with premier defensive talent (though one layer fewer with Joel Embiid sidelined), Simmons sticks out for the way he standardizes the exceptional. A point guard shouldn’t be able to defend with the range that Simmons does, but breaking the form of the position has its advantages. So far this season, Simmons has checked James Harden, Pascal Siakam, Luka Doncic, Aaron Gordon, Bradley Beal, and Brandon Ingram. Those players share little in common save that they fall under Simmons’s purview. When Philadelphia needs to keep a waterbug point guard under thumb, the job typically goes to Josh Richardson. If an opposing center is worth the Sixers’ attention, Embiid or Al Horford can usually manage. It’s on Simmons to cover damn near anyone else, no matter their style of play.

Simmons is like a thought experiment come to life: a 6-foot-10, 230-pound natural athlete with all the instincts of a guard. There is a fair conversation to be had as to whether Simmons would be better off as a playmaking big (á la Draymond Green) as opposed to the initiator of an offense. Yet developmentally, starting his professional career on the perimeter has made Simmons into a singular obstruction. Players of his size don’t typically get much experience in chasing an opposing creator through a pick-and-roll. They would be schooled from the start to think like a big—in terms of providing help rather than relieving it. Most bigs don’t know how to flatten their body to squeeze over the top of a screen because the game plan would never call for them to. The nuance of pursuing a play from behind could be lost on a big, considering that their entire line of work is predicated on containing what is in front of them.

By orienting Simmons as a perimeter player, the Sixers prioritized the skills that now set him apart. There is incredible value in having an enormous and explosive defender who understands how to close out on a shooter. What a luxury it must be to have another player the size of Horford to slide into the lane to pick up a roll man, or switch reactively when the coverage breaks down. Even when an opposing guard manages to squirm past Simmons, he will sometimes poke away their dribble from behind—AAU-level ingenuity that works because Simmons is so much longer than the defenders they’re accustomed to. Cruelest of all: When the action of an opposing offense stalls, some panicked role player will try to kick the ball out to a more qualified teammate. Often, Simmons will be guarding them, a giant lying in wait.

Quote (Winlaw @ Jan 14 2020 01:27pm)

Come on my guy, I was obviously kidding about the backpedal comment lmao. I do agree 100% that the Sixers are built for post season success, but if Embiid were to go down in the playoffs (injury bug always gonna linger w/ him) .. y'all would be toast first round likely. This roster is in dire need of shooters, a guy like JJ Reddit would probably work wonders spacing the floor for this team, don't yah think?

People here, myself included, love to give you shit because you ALWAYS jump the gun on your players, teams etc.. and sometimes that shit comes back to make you look silly. Case in point right now. I commend you for always having the utmost faith in your team, even tho you come across as blind at times

Al Horford - hasn't been remotely close earning the big $$

Tobiass Harass - ^ same

Josh "best player on the Heat last season" Richardson - underwhelming so far, I'm sure you would agree here? promising young player, just doesn't look like he meshes with the team. but than again, none of them seem to really mesh well lmao

Matisse "diamond in the rough 2.0" Thybull - haven't heard you make a peep about the rook since the beginning of the season. looks to be a great defender, but that's it. jump shot on par w/ your Fresh Prince aka..

Ben "maybe this offseason 3pter" Simmons - game hasn't grown at all. an absolute unit in transition but a liability in half court sets. it remains to be seen if he and Embiid will ever mesh if Simmons cannot shoot the damn ball

Quote (Sixers @ Jan 14 2020 11:54am)

I like Josh Richardson, i'm a big fan of his and I love the move to get him when we were losing Butler. I like him more than I like Horford or Tobias, especially considering he's on one of the most team friendly deals in the league making just $10M this season and $10M next season. Shit, the guy just won Eastern Conference player of the week and you have to respect how hard he plays on both ends of the floor.

Al has been disappointing for sure, and Tobias is averaging his normal like 20/7/3 on 48% shooting but somehow still feels underwhelming considering how non-clutch he has been at the end of games. I don't know if he has "it" to be that guy, he's a smooth scorer and can get buckets but after signing a max contract those expectations go a bit higher and we haven't quite seen that rise yet.

I love this team, but it's obvious that outside shooting is going to kill them if they don't pick up a legit 3pt specialist or two before the deadline. I'm done blaming Simmons for not shooting outside, we already know what he is and he's not going to all of a sudden start draining threes every game so we need to work off of him and build around him properly (with shooters that can CONVERT). Simmons DOES need to be more aggressive though in crunch time, and be more selfish and look for his buckets.


edit: In regards to Thybulle he's a great pick, i have praised him plenty this season lol. This kid has a great personality on top of a dog mentality on defense and he's displaying a pretty good shot from outside shooting 42% from 3pt. The issue is he's a rookie and he makes a lot of rookie mistakes, so it's difficult to rely on him consistently with heavy minutes yet. He has a lot of potential to be a premier 3&D player though, that's for sure.

Quote (Article @ Jan 14 2020 02:42pm)

Nobody is reading that

Quote (Sixers @ Jan 14 2020 12:45pm)

I can make a picture book for you, will that help you feel included in the conversation?

Quote (Sixers @ Jan 15 2020 06:45am)

I can make a picture book for you, will that help you feel included in the conversation?

Quote (CFL @ Jan 14 2020 03:06pm)

I'd also like this

Not way I'm reading 4 paragraphs of garbage this early in the morning.

Quote (Sixers @ 14 Jan 2020 12:13)

I read your garbage every fucking day and do you ever hear me complain?

Quote (UnEvilManiac @ Jan 14 2020 03:38pm)

Claims team is built forpost season success.(They may be we'll see)
Brings up regular season record against Boston, Bucks, an injured Toronto team and the Heat.

I'm not going to give you too much shit.
But you do know if I was spewing half the shit you spew about Portland and their missing 6 rotational players... I'd get so much shit on here.
Take your medicine sir.