Philadelphia 76ers: The narrative of extremes around Ben Simmons’ growth

When Philadelphia 76ers fans talk about Ben Simmons’ future, it typically aligns with extreme perspectives and unreasonable expectations.

The Philadelphia 76ers were a bounce away from potentially beating the Toronto Raptors in Game 7. The same Raptors team that finished the regular season with the NBA’s second-best record. To call the season a failure would be foolish.

Yet after the buzzer sounded and the pain set in, fans were quick to rush judgement. It’s the natural reaction in sports. If a team loses, something has the change. Something is wrong. And to a degree, it’s true. The Sixers’ bench was a major weaknesses, one Toronto exploited in the most critical game. Joel Embiid‘s health was also a talking point all series.

Fans also pointed to Ben Simmons. While most rational fans are firmly in the Keep Simmons camp, national pundits have began calling for a break up. There are countless think-pieces and rants on why Embiid and Simmons can’t co-exist and will never win a title.

More from Sixers News

• 3 Sixers players who could help Team USA Basketball
• 76ers 2k24 ratings: 3 most underrated players on Philadelphia roster
• 76ers head coach Nick Nurse bares lofty plans for Paul Reed this season
• Grade the Trade: 76ers swap Tobias Harris for superstar PG in mock deal
• Breaking Down Bombshell Report on Sixers Star James Harden

That leads to extreme requests and expectations beyond reason. Simmons has said time and time again that he plans to gradually expand his game, which includes his jumper. He can practice all summer, but to expect a functionally-shooting Simmons for 2019-20 is wishful thinking. It’s also not his most important development.

The Sixers have proven during the regular season and postseason that Embiid and Simmons can indeed work together. Philadelphia’s starting lineup ranked among the best five-man groups in the league. Embiid and Simmons have been a consistent pairing all season, even when Brett Brown staggers the rotations.

Even if Simmons begins to attempt threes, no defense will respect his stroke until it’s a consistent, 35+ percent threat. He doesn’t have the natural gravity of Embiid or the shooting pedigree to warrant such attention.

That means the spacing won’t get better. Not next season. Simmons’ jumper will remain a work in progress for a while, and that’s fine. It’s not an aspirations-killing hindrance. It’s something the Sixers can and will overcome.

As Brown showed during the postseason, Simmons can make an impact off the ball. He needs to work on becoming a more willing roll man, setting hard screens and making strong moves to the basket. That unlocks both his playmaking and scoring in a new, dynamic way.

Simmons can also improve his touch at the rim, finishing more consistently with his left hand and polishing his footwork on the block. That would make him an even more efficient scorer who can punish the mismatches he’s so often blessed with.

Those basic tweaks, plus a more consistent free throw stoke and a more aggressive mentality, would drastically transform Simmons’ game. He’s already a 22-year-old All-Star posting historic numbers, and there’s very clear room for growth before he’s splashing three-pointers.

The idea that Simmons didn’t improve this season was always false. And the idea Simmons can’t improve without adding a jumper is false as well. There is a very clear path toward reaching the next level for Simmons, and it doesn’t involve the sporadic evolution of Steph Curry’s stroke.

Simmons will work hard over the summer, as he did last summer. The narratives regarding his lack of improvement or poor work ethic are better off ignored, as it’s clear Simmons make tweaks to his mechanics and significant strides with his overall skill set in 2018-19.

The Sixers don’t need Simmons to hit a bunch of jumpers next season. Would it be nice to see him attempt the occasional open three? Perhaps, but it’s not the lifeblood for his NBA future. He can succeed and blossom in other areas.

Don’t trade a second-year All-Star with top-10 potential. It isn’t the cleanest fit, but Embiid and Simmons have both embraced their role as organizational building blocks. Simmons is an elite defender as well as a special offensive talent. There’s too much there to justify a short-sighted, “win-now” move. You can win now with Simmons. The Raptors, who are tied 2-2 in the conference finals, were just outplayed for significant portions of a seven-game series by Philadelphia. That’s despite Embiid’s stomach turning and his lungs aching.

Have patience, folks. Simmons is on the right path. A special path. He will grow next season. It should be the general expectation. That doesn’t have much to do with his jumper.