The Sixer Sense
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Old Guard vs. New Guard: Wade vs. Simmons in round one

By CHRISTIAN KLEMASH

PHILADELPHIA,PA - FEBRUARY 14 : Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers stands next to Dwyane Wade #3 of he Miami Heat at Wells Fargo Center on February 14, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA,PA - FEBRUARY 14 : Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers stands next to Dwyane Wade #3 of he Miami Heat at Wells Fargo Center on February 14, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Round One of the Eastern Conference playoffs features an intriguing guard matchup of future hall-of-famer Dwyane Wade and Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons.

Make no mistake, basketball is controlled by guards these days.  From Stephen Curry to Russell Westbrook to James Harden.  They handle the ball the majority of the time and facilitate to the rest of the team.  And when the Philadelphia 76ers meet the Heat, we have a beauty.  The old guard vs. the new guard.  Literally.

Dwyane Wade, aka ‘Flash’, is a 36-year old future hall-of-famer.  He’s a three-time NBA champion, a 12-time All-Star, an NBA Finals MVP, a scoring champ and was Sports Illustrated’s 2006 Sportsman of the Year.  In his prime in 2010 with the Miami Heat, he averaged 33 points, nearly seven assists and six rebounds per game – in the playoffs!

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Ben Simmons, aka ‘The Wizard of Aus’, is playing like a future hall-of-famer in just his rookie season!  Born in Melbourne, Australia to an American father and Australian mother, he’s a 21-year old basketball prodigy who was the top overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft.  And he’s playing like it.

He averaged 16 points, eight assists and eight rebounds per game, leading the Sixers to a 52-30 record and the third seed in the East.  Oh, and by the way, he posted the most triple-doubles in a season by a rookie in 56 years.

At 6-4, Wade is a fluid blend of quickness, slashing his way through defenses, creating his own shot and carrying teams with his scoring ability.  He’s like a smaller Kobe Bryant.  Simmons, at 6-10, is an anomaly.  An over-sized point guard whose best skill is his mesmerizing passing ability.  He’s like a bigger Magic Johnson.  Both are stellar defenders.  Wade is a three-time NBA All-Defensive Team (second team) member.  Simmons, for my money, deserves that honor this year.

This series should be tight.  The teams split four games this season by a total of 18 points.  The Sixers won the first two (though Wade missed the first one).  The Heat took the next two.  In the two Heat victories, Wade has gotten the better of Simmons, scoring 27 and 16.  But the Sixers are a vastly improved team lately, having blitzkrieged through the end of the season with a franchise record 16 consecutive wins — and counting.

And although Dwyane Wade is near the end of his illustrious career, don’t doubt for a second that he’d like to knock off the new kid on the block.  And as for Simmons, as happens with all things in nature, I think youth will be served.

I like the Sixers in six.

Next: Breaking down the Sixers v.s. Heat matchup

Game One starts tonight at 8 p.m. ET.