2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[SleepingHero]

There is no way I'm touching Simmons with a 10-foot pole. This isn't a one-time thing, every single year he disappears in the playoffs when defenses lock down in transition and force the half-court game. It doesn't matter who his teammates is, who is coach is, you can count on him to disappear when it matters because he can. not. do. anything. in the half-court offense. He can't shoot, he can't post-up, he can't hit free throws. Just a free invite to double off of him.

Really the worst thing is that he won't even address the problem. Like, as much as we criticize KP, and rightfully so, imagine if he pretended there was no problem, that it didn't matter that he lacked fundamental basketball skills? As far as anyone can tell, he makes zero effort to fix this. He's still the same non-shooter as when he came into the league.

You have to treat Simmons as a center. Thats what he is. He's a 6'10 center with a minor post up game. Except he can also guard everyone on the court. Think about that. With Simmons out there, there is no matchup that he cannot defend. He can easily guard Kawhi one possession and Zubac another, and do it well. Further as a 6'10 center, he can also do stuff like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QyKq0BQ5D4

And that's before even talking about his ELITE passing ability.

He's unique. He disappears in the playoffs because PHI has a center already and Simmons is relegated to standing out on the top of the key where he's ignored. Imagine Simmons as Dwight Powell here. Set screens, rebound, dunk, make passes out of the post. Dude would do SOOO well here.


I urge you to watch this amazing breakdown on him by what I think is the best analyst out there right now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x3-B4ogAqA