The Sixer Sense
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Ben Simmons’ poise goes well beyond his years

By Christopher Kline

MIAMI, FL - APRIL 19: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball against the Miami Heat in Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 19: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball against the Miami Heat in Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers’ rookie isn’t playing like a rookie.

When Sam Hinkie started the Process many years ago, the goal was pretty simple: bottom out and add one or two generational talents through the draft. That’s why he went Best Player Available over fit. It’s also what put the Philadelphia 76ers in position to draft Ben Simmons.

Now it’s April 2018, and the Sixers are in the playoffs as the third seed, holding a 3-1 series lead over a tough Miami Heat squad. Some are calling them the favorites to come out of a wide-open Eastern Conference.

Thus far, Simmons has been the best player on the court.

At 21 years of age, perhaps the most impressive part of Simmons’ game is the poise he plays with on a nightly basis. He doesn’t get flustered by the moment, whether it be an important national T.V. game or, now, the postseason.

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Simmons is a rookie who looks unfathomably comfortable in critical moments. In Saturday afternoon’s Game 4 win, there was a lot of physical play. When James Johnson got in his face and started shoving, the rook simply smirked as refs and coaches tried to get between the two.

Johnson is a veteran with a well-known tough guy reputation. Being one of Ben’s primary defenders, he has also been jawing with Simmons all series. When tempers inevitably flaired, it was him — not the rookie — who looked out of sorts.

You can make the connection between Simmons and LeBron James all you want, but their mentality is more similar than their game. Simmons has obviously taken mental notes over the course of his friendship with James, and how he approaches each game might be the most striking similarity.

Seldom do we see Simmons push too hard or let the opposing defense get in his head. There are times when you’d like to see him be more aggressive, but he lets the game come to him and attacks when opportunities arise or the stakes get high.

He tallied a triple-double in Game 4, with a solid chunk of his 17 points coming in the fourth quarter as the Sixers cemented their comeback. With around a minute left, it was Simmons who gave the Sixers a 102-99 lead with an emphatic dunk. Once he turned on the jets, things started to break Philly’s way.

Here’s what Dwyane Wade had to say about Simmons and Joel Embiid following Game 4:

"“Ultimately, sometimes the playoffs becomes too big for certain guys, or some guys don’t know how to match the intensity of the playoffs, or whatever the case may be. They play that way already. They already play to that intense level.” — Philly.com"

What Simmons is doing — again, AS A ROOKIE — isn’t normal. At all.

Next: Brett Brown loves defense, and it shows

He’s an anomaly, and somebody whose transcendent talent and undeniable mental edge should have Sixers fans excited for the future