What must Ben Simmons improve after a shaky start to the Philadelphia 76ers’ season?
Philadelphia 76ers point guard Ben Simmons has gotten off to a slow start in his second season after not looking like he improved his game from one season ago where he averaged 15.8 points, 8.2 assists, and 8.1 rebounds. This years through ten games he is averaging 14 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game, which isn’t encouraging knowing how well he playing last season. He said in the offseason that is not going to shoot a lot of mid-range jump shots, let alone any three-point jumpers.
Teams are starting to figure Ben out, which is why he is struggling on the offensive end lately. He has all of the physical talent in the world but if he doesn’t start taking it to the rim more efficiently and getting his teammates involved more, he won’t be able to reach his superstar capability.
1. Needs to be more aggressive
Some times you can find Ben not looking at the basket when he is one-on-one with a defender, and just looking to try and force a pass to a teammate. He needs to start looking to make a move on his defender and drive in with his physical ability. Also, he looks clueless at times when there is not anyone open on offense and he doesn’t look to take it in himself.
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Ben looks less involved in the offense when the Sixers have the ball. Brett Brown needs to call up plays for players to come set picks to get Simmons some more offensive looks to build up confidence.
2. Taking mid-range jumpers
Simmons has only taken a few jump shots all year and some have looked good and some have bad. It is like the same thing with Fultz, for him to get better at it he needs to take those shots in game situations. He took more jumpers last season and it seems like he has taken a step back in that area this year.
How do Brett Brown and Ben Simmons think the jumper will improve if he is not trying it in the games? Because in warmups and practices he has been seen taking some jump shots and three-ointers, and has actually made a bunch of them. The reality is, Ben Simmons is a jump shot away from being an MVP candidate and a future Hall of Famer
3. Playing off the ball
For this whole situation to work Ben needs to learn how to be effective off the ball, because Markelle Fultz has been bringing up the ball too recently. When not having the ball in his hands, he hasn’t spaced the floor well and doesn’t really know what to do.
I think that this is part Coach Brown’s fault and partly Simmons’ too. Ben needs to find space on the wing and even if he is not going to shoot three-point shots, he can still be ready to catch the ball and make a quick move to the basket.
Because right now, Teams do not respect Ben when they see him behind the three-point line, as they know he is not a threat from there. But if he shows he will shoot it once in a while then defenses will have to tighten up.
Let’s see if Ben looks to be more aggressive and improve his game to help the team bounce back after their early struggles. Because if the Sixers look to go far in the playoffs this season, they will need Ben to be a big contributor not only on the offensive end but defensively too.
The Philadelphia 76ers travel to Indiana to face the Pacers on Wednesday, and then come home to play the Hornets on Friday and then finish off the week to play the Grizzles on the second day of a back-to-back in Memphis.