Philadelphia 76ers: How to guide expectations for Ben Simmons’ jumper
How to properly manage expectations for the Philadelphia 76ers’ star point guard.
Ben Simmons’ jump shot or lack thereof has been a main topic of conversation since he was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016. Heading into his third official NBA season is where it seems like we’ll all see the jumper often (for Simmons standards) in live game action.
Since we’ve gotten jumper video after jumper video in pickup, I felt the need to help us all manage our expectations when watching Simmons play this season. Basically, this a how-to guide on the maintenance of expectations for Ben Simmons jump shot.
A good starting point for this would be by only comparing Ben to himself, either that being his past or potential play. Therefore, it would be counteracting all the LeBron James or Magic Johnson comparisons repeated over the past few years.
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Last season, his pull-up shot attempts went down in attempts (1.2) and shots made (0.3) as opposed to 2.4 pull up attempts and 0.8 shots made his rookie season. Since Simmons is a ball-dominant player, his catch-and-shoot statistics are basically nonexistent. Jumping from 16.9 points per game to 20 points per game would move Ben closer to the elite club of NBA players and this could happen with one or two jumpers more made per game. All in all, increasing the statistics above by two or three jumpers is a plus for Simmons and the Sixers.
On the same token, expecting the minimum quantity of jump shots taken by Simmons is a key to tempering expectations. If it sounds like I’m saying treating the jump shot the way it has been treated his first two seasons, that’s exactly what I’m saying. Simmons has taken damn near the smallest increment of jumpers possible so far in his career. Taking the same amount he has his first two seasons would meet the minimum. Although it’s not progress, doing would be lessening the disappointment of the realization that the jump shot is still under wraps.
It’s common sense that you can’t make jump shots if you don’t take jump shots. Let’s just say Simmons decides to hoist more jumpers than expected. Leading me to my next point of caring more attempts than shots made. That’s winning half the battle right there. Taking more of them is a step in the right direction for the potential of Simmons and the Sixers. Using the jumper more often would give Simmons the familiarity of its use in actual games with his teammates.
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I can understand if broken all the way down, we’re debating about a basketball player’s jumper, which is a major component of the game. Yet keeping the conversation strictly focused on Simmons means the constant debate has actually been his biggest weakness on the basketball court. Keeping these ideas in my mind can help you not screaming at the TV during Philadelphia 76ers games.