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,PA – DECEMBER 21 : Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers goes up for the layup against the Toronto Raptors at Wells Fargo Center on December 21, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA,PA – DECEMBER 21 : Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers goes up for the layup against the Toronto Raptors at Wells Fargo Center on December 21, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Reason #2

The next reason is blatantly obvious: shooting. Saric has deep range, and he’s never afraid to launch the ball. Simmons, however, is reluctant to stretch his range out beyond the paint.

For the season, Saric is shooting 35.3 percent from 3-point range. Also, Saric has already attempted 170 threes in just 34 games. Having confidence in your jump shot is key, and Saric definitely has that. On the other hand, Simmons has taken nine 3-pointers all year, all of which were full-court heaves at the end of quarters.

Where Simmons excels is in the paint, he’s currently making 73.6 percent of his shots from zero-to-three feet away from the basket. Comparably, Saric isn’t too far behind as he’s making 65.2 percent of his shots from zero-to-three feet away from the basket.

https://twitter.com/TheRenderNBA/status/882373378161741824

A popular suggestion is that Simmons should begin learning to shoot with his right-hand. This would obviously have to take place in the next offseason. If Simmons is constantly using his right-hand for layups, floaters, hooks, and even full-court shots, I think it’s a sign that he should start shooting righty.

Look at this video of Simmons shooting his free-throws with his right-hand during practice. The release is so much smoother and fluid.