Ben Simmons epitomizes the Philadelphia 76ers’ strangeness

The Philadelphia 76ers have witnessed a season of ups and downs from Ben Simmons.

I would argue the Philadelphia 76ers are the most unique team in basketball. The starting five is the human equivalent of the Great Wall of China and, on paper, the offense doesn’t fit. More than any NBA team, the Sixers have placed an emphasis on defense and physicality. And it might just work.

The Sixers started the season 5-0, then lost five of seven, and have since gone on to win four straight. Smooth is not a term I would use to describe the 2019-20 campaign, and it speaks to the sometimes confusing nature of this Philadelphia squad. The end result, however, is still a sterling 11-5 record.

Perhaps no one will truly make sense of this Sixers team. At least not until the postseason. Joel Embiid, Al Horford, Ben Simmons, and Josh Richardson have all missed time, planned or not. It’s clear the Sixers are built for May and June, and at times, their effort reflects that.

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There’s a chance our first look at a consistently engaged, consistently top-gear Sixers team isn’t until the spring. That’s not ideal — the Sixers should work to build as much regular-season continuity and chemistry as possible — but it’s understandable. The endgame is the endgame.

No player encapsulates the strangeness of this Sixers team — the sheer unknowability and uncertainty around it — more than Ben Simmons. The 6-foot-10 point guard is a drastically flawed player, with a skill set few would associate with modern basketball. He’s also a soon-to-be perennial All-Star.

For all the noise surrounding Simmons’ campaign, he’s averaging 13.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 7.9 assists on 55.3 percent shooting. He’s also hitting 100 percent of this one three-point attempt. He won’t shoot! His aggressiveness is down! He’s hurting the team! While some comments are true to a degree, the basic fact remains: Simmons is a mighty fine basketball player.

This season, Simmons has seen a slight drop in scoring volume and efficiency as Horford, Richardson, and Tobias Harris work themselves into the offense. Simmons is once again the undisputed point guard, but new responsibilities and claustrophobic spacing have led to some growing pains.

Another potential source of Simmons’ early-season lumps is a shoulder injury, which he sustained against Utah on Nov. 6. After missing a couple games, Simmons was ice cold upon his return. He has since cranked it back into gear, including three straight games of double-digit assists leading up to Friday’s win over Miami.

His recent play, in conjunction with Simmons’ first couple games to start the season, gives the 23-year-old  evidence of improvement and a more well-rounded game. He needs to show out on a more consistent basis — his aggressiveness does need to improve — but on top of his first three-point make, Simmons has shown more finesse as a finisher and a greater willingness to screen and rim-run in the halfcourt.

Simmons doesn’t make total sense on paper. He still can’t/won’t shoot, his role is more optimal in a power forward capacity, and the Sixers can’t run-and-gun to his liking without phasing Embiid out of the offense. And yet, it all sort of works. The Sixers, despite intense scrutiny and concern from the fanbase, are 11-5. That’s a good record.

Even with the issues between them — spacing, decision-making, pacing — Embiid and Simmons still make an effective duo. Over the course of NBA history, we have seen talent take precedence over fit. Embiid and Simmons are also familiar with one another. There’s underrated chemistry there as the longest-tenured starters.

It is truly a strange spot for Simmons. He would fit better individually on most other teams, but his skill set remains integral to the Sixers’ championship quest. He’s the second-best player on the team, and he’s someone Brett Brown continues to show confidence in.

Simmons has All-Defense potential this season. He’s one of the most versatile defenders on the planet, and sits toward the top of the NBA in stocks (steals + blocks) so far. He’s a disruptive force, but also a lock-down iso defender when possessions count. Simmons played a large role in Jimmy Butler‘s 4-for-13 shooting in his return to Philadelphia.

The Sixers rely on Simmons, both as a defender and as a primary initiator. His many flaws aside, Simmons puts a unique pressure on the opposition. For all the complaints about his aggressiveness and touch, few players command more attention inside the three-point line than Simmons.

As the season progresses, expect Simmons’ numbers to improve. His scoring might drop as a product of the group around him, but scoring has never been Simmons’ forte. As long as his assist numbers leap forward, his rebounds creep up, and his defense stays locked in, the Sixers will find plenty of utility in Simmons.

He is — and I will maintain this position — a championship-caliber building block.