How Jahlil Okafor and Ben Simmons Can be a Power Duo

Example

In this scenario, again, Okafor is lined up on the left, and Simmons on the right. For this situation, I’ve added in some extra defenders and dud offensive players to make the situation more realistic.

The issue here is we’re building a play around Simmons and Okafor, and basically stripping the identity to the three other Sixers on the floor to a red dot. This is mainly because they wouldn’t pertain to this situation, but I still think it just goes to show how poorly Okafor and Simmons may fit together. If we’re forgetting about all other players to try and make two players fit together, that may be a red flag.

Nonetheless, let’s move forward with this situation.

Here, we’ve got al lot of players lined on the right side of the floor, leaving simply Okafor to work the left. Although this is not his strong suit, he is going to cut into the key and Simmons is going to hit him with a pass. Since the Sixers have most of their players on the right side — and subsequently, the opposing players who were tasked with guarding them — Okafor will be set up nicely in an isolation play.

Okafor will have the opportunity to get to the basket swiftly as soon as he receives the pass, and should be able to get an easy two points, and possibly draw a foul as well.

The only downside here is that this play will probably only work once or twice a night. Aside from the first or second time they do it, as soon as opposing teams see the Sixers take a stance on the right side only, besides Okafor, they’re going to know the plan is to get the ball from Simmons to Jah.

This is why, again, having more shooters as weapons will help because Simmons will have more options once Jahlil is shut down, at least in this setting.

Next: Simmons running like McConnell