Philadelphia 76ers: 5 reactions from scrimmage win over Memphis Grizzlies

1. Ben thrives in his new role

Ben Simmons should have no problem as the Sixers’ power forward. In fact, he looks primed to thrive in his new role. This game definitely belonged to Simmons when he was on the floor. He quickly shed his rust and impacted every facet of the game for Philadelphia.

The final stat line for Simmons — nine points, seven rebounds, nine assists, three steals — is emblematic of his versatility. He set screens, occupied the dunker’s spot, worked in the post, and even attempted a couple corner 3s (with one make).

In his minutes at point guard — which came entirely sans Embiid — Simmons was equally effective, pushing the tempo and generating open looks for teammates. The Simmons, Horford, and spacers lineups were effective.

And, I mean, look at this.

https://twitter.com/sixers/status/1286761955236159489

Whether he’s running next to Milton or as the lead ball-handler, the Sixers will still get Simmons the ball early and often on most possessions. This was a fairly aggressive game from him offensively — nine shots in 22 minutes — and his willingness to shoot the long ball will open up a ton. If he takes them on a nightly basis, defenses will eventually recognize it as a threat. Simmons attacking closeouts is a tantalizing thought.

This was a strong first performance in Orlando. The Sixers led by as many as 29 in the first half, and while the Grizzlies are clearly not up to speed yet, it’s important for Philadelphia to build momentum whenever possible. Even if games that don’t count, and in which the bench plays heavy minutes.