The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Can Ben Simmons Lead Philadelphia 76ers In Four Month Season?

By Bret Stuter

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver holds a basketball while posing for a photo with draft prospects from left Buddy Hield (Oklahoma) , Ben Simmons (LSU), Brandon Ingram (Duke) and Kris Dunn (Providence) before the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver holds a basketball while posing for a photo with draft prospects from left Buddy Hield (Oklahoma) , Ben Simmons (LSU), Brandon Ingram (Duke) and Kris Dunn (Providence) before the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Jul 12, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons (25) directs teammates during an NBA Summer League game against the Golden State Warriors at Thomas & Mack Center. Golden State won the game 85-77. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 12, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons (25) directs teammates during an NBA Summer League game against the Golden State Warriors at Thomas & Mack Center. Golden State won the game 85-77. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

Lead By Example

Do not expect Ben Simmons to simply arrive one day, make a public announcement “This is my team now!” and just start leading the team on the basketball court. Leadership doesn’t work that way. It requires integrity, trust, and performance. Recently we have been diagnosing struggles facing the Philadelphia 76ers in the early stage of the 2016-2017 NBA season. So far, the team is dead last in the NBA in scoring, and near the bottom of the NBA in rebounds.

That has to change for the team to have any hope of even modest success this year.  Those changes won’t happen without some form of catalyst.  Ben Simmons could be that catalyst.

Live Feed

Pass or Pursue: 3 High-Profile Spurs Trade Targets from Bleacher Report
Pass or Pursue: 3 High-Profile Spurs Trade Targets from Bleacher Report /

Air Alamo

  • 4 Trae Young trades the Hawks should consider FanSided
  • The Whiteboard: Wild cards who could reshape the 2023-24 NBA season FanSided
  • 5 Players Blazers could swap Jerami Grant for to keep tanking hopes alive Rip City Project
  • NBA Rumors: Ben Simmons in best shape of his life for third time in 3 years FanSided
  • NBA rumors: Erik Spoelstra is a trojan horse, surprise suitor for JaVale McGee, Ben Simmons still loves Philly FanSided

    • It starts with the boards.  Right now Philadelphia is averaging just 41.2 rebounds per game.   If his summer league stats hold up, Ben Simmons would be the team leader in rebounds at 7.8 per game.  Since he would likely slide into a small forward role, he would likely bump minutes from either Robert Covington or Hollis Thompson, both averaging four rebounds per game. That difference would place the 76ers at 44.6 rebounds per game, or at the average for the NBA.

    Similarly, his 12.8 points per game would boost the production of either Covington or Thompson, Where Hollis Thompson chips in 8.2 points per game and Covington is contributing 4.0.  Plus 7 points per game (diffence) would place the Philadelphia 76ers at 23rd in the league. Not great, but a far better cry than dead last.

    Production like that would be remarkable for the team directly. But even moreso? A triad of front court pairings of Embiid/Okafor, Saric/Ilyasova, and Simmons/Covington would finally settle the roster once and for all. If Richaun Holmes continues to progress this year, he would simply slide into the roster in the space occupied by Ilyasova this season.  With a young and talented front court FINALLy established, the team can focus on the back court for next season.