The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Why Dario Saric is better than Ben Simmons

By Owen Nelson

PORTLAND, OR - DECEMBER 28: Ben Simmons #25 and Dario Saric #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on December 28, 2017 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - DECEMBER 28: Ben Simmons #25 and Dario Saric #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on December 28, 2017 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Philadelphia 76ers
BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 30: Dario Saric #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers passes the ball against the Boston Celtics on November 30, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Reason #1

The passing I.Q. and ability of Saric and Simmons are equal, in my opinion. They both can spot passes that nobody else can see. The pair sees the game at a different speed to the rest of us. Passing isn’t a skill you can learn, it’s natural, it’s instincts. Saric and Simmons both have that special skill.

Due to the ball being in Simmons’ hands on every possession, I would expect him to average the number of assists that he currently does (7.6 assists per game). The same can be said for Saric. If he had the ball on every possession, we would see a similar kind of production. Many teams can never find a player with the passing I.Q. of Saric and Simmons, the 76ers are very fortunate to have two of them.

In terms of protecting the ball, Saric has only had two games where he turned the ball over on more than three occasions. Simmons, however, has had 22 games where he committed more than three turnovers. As I said, Simmons has the ball in his hands way more than Saric, however, the difference is enormous.