Sixers-Hawks Game 4 takeaways: Ben Simmons and the discourse
Ben Simmons is an incredibly weird NBA player. He is so singular and unique, both in his strengths and in his flaws, that people have a tough time discerning when and where to complain about/praise him. My general sentiment, which I have echoed many times over on this site, remains the same: he is really good, probably a top-25 player, and better than @EmbiidStan563384757 on Twitter makes him out to be.
I have gotten to a point where I have simply accepted Ben Simmons for who he is. Deeply flawed, uncomfortable in his own skin, and very much a winning basketball player. This series would not be 2-2 if not for Ben Simmons. His defense on Trae Young, in combination with his stellar second half in Game 3, is partly why the Sixers did not crumble after Game 1.
Simmons was pretty good in Game 4. He collected a diverse stat line of 11 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists, and two blocks on 5-for-10 shooting. His relative quietness in the second half, combined with another rocky outing from the free throw line (1-for-5), is why he gets his own section of article today.
People love a good Ben Simmons debate. Especially after a high-stakes loss in which he did not go supernova. The Sixers could have used more from Ben Simmons offensively, especially with Embiid M.I.A., but to say he had a bad game is overstating things. Doc Rivers was not wrong we he outlined the sheer weight of Simmons’ responsibilities in this series. At 6-foot-10, he is chasing Trae Young over scenes on one end, while pushing the tempo and initiating the offense on the other end. It’s hard to expect unwavering, full-stop, heavy-metal effort on every possession.
So, yes, the Sixers need more from Ben Simmons on nights like this. Nights like this, however, rarely happen. Ben Simmons is not the scorer fans want him to be, and expecting him to magically flip the 20-points-per-game switch will end in disappointment every time. He is capable of some aggressive games and big outbursts. But, in general, find solace in the brilliant defense and expert playmaking.