The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers Ben Simmons, from Down Under to On Top of the NBA World

By Bret Stuter

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 13: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts in the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at the Wells Fargo Center on March 13, 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 13: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts in the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at the Wells Fargo Center on March 13, 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Out of the shadows

The Philadelphia 76ers eased into the 2017-2018 season slowly. In fact, the team faced the Boston Celtics, the Toronto Raptors, and the Washington Wizards in the first three contests. In those first three games, Simmons had no trouble scoring. And he was also great on the boards, getting double digit rebounds. But assists did not come as easily.  In those first games, it was difficult to anticipate when and where his teammates would be.  In fact, he would not dish out double digit assists until game four of the season, when he recorded his first triple double at the expense of the Detroit Pistons.

Some say Ben Simmons cannot score. He can. With the 3-seed on the line, he put up 27 points on 12-17 shooting against the Cleveland Cavaliers.  But in the quest to make the Philadelphia 76ers more competitive, he’s grown into an NBA facilitator.  Now playing alongside a quintet of perimeter shooters: Ersan Ilyasova, Dario Saric, Robert Covington, Marco Belinelli, and J.J. Redick, he needn’t think shoot-first.  That roster now allows him to play selflessly.

Bright future

The challenge with Ben Simmons at the point guard role? No other 6-foot-10 player suits that role in the NBA.  The challenge with facing Ben Simmons at the point guard role? No other 6-foot-10 player suits that role in the NBA. And there’s the rub. 29 NBA teams are all vying for one NBA Championship each year. Until Simmons leads the Philadelphia 76ers to victory in the NBA Championship series, no NBA team will plan a way to neutralize him.   There’s a problem with that type of thinking.

Simmons is good this year. He’ll be better next year. In fact, he will likely not hit his prime for several years. Each subsequent year he’ll be a little bit better than the previous version. That makes defending and defeating a Ben Simmons team all the more difficult. But NBA teams cannot aim at Simmons’ future potential, not with so many current elite players on the court today. A rookie whose first year generated more triple doubles in the NBA  than many players’ entire careets has a bright future.