The Sixer Sense
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How Jahlil Okafor and Ben Simmons Can be a Power Duo

By Josh Wilson

Nov 9, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; The Philadelphia 76ers logo on the warm up shirt of center Jahlil Okafor (not pictured) prior to action against the Chicago Bulls at Wells Fargo Center. The Bulls won 111-88. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 9, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; The Philadelphia 76ers logo on the warm up shirt of center Jahlil Okafor (not pictured) prior to action against the Chicago Bulls at Wells Fargo Center. The Bulls won 111-88. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 9, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons (25) gestures from the court during an NBA Summer League game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 9, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons (25) gestures from the court during an NBA Summer League game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

Example

The first few situations involve Simmons and Okafor starting their offense on opposite sides of the floor. Although Simmons seems to encourage a faster paced offensive style with more fast breaks (something that Brett Brown seems to encourage) Okafor is known to slow the offense down.

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If Simmons and Okafor were on the floor together, there would have to be fewer fast breaks and a lower pace, as addressed earlier. Simmons and Okafor would need to set up on opposite sides of the floor. Simmons should be on the right, and Okafor on the left, where he generally had more success this past season.

This first situation is one that takes advantage of the likelihood that a motioned Simmons will attract defenders. This could easily set Okafor up for an isolation play, where he does his best work. Here, Simmons will start on the wing, with the ball, and dribble in towards the key. Okafor will come in to the lower half of the circle or closer, looking for a pass as he is matched one-on-one because of Simmons attracting most of the opposition.

Okafor can go right for the rim, or dribble in if he needs to. Since Okafor attracts double teams of his own, there’s reason to believe he might have a second defender quickly on him, in which case he may turn the ball over, (thus rendering this entire thing useless) or he could find Simmons, who would be out of his double team at this point to start the offense over again.

Next: Isolation wrinkle