Philadelphia is one of the most historic cities in the United States. Tourists from all over visit for its landmarks and artifacts. Residents who support the Philadelphia 76ers are more concerned with the most recent events of their NBA team.
After the offseason, Doc Rivers and the Sixers have acquired the pieces they need to take their team to the next level. Trading for James Harden in exchange for Ben Simmons seems to be the right move but will Simmons’ talents be missed in the long run?
Who is a better scorer for the Sixers: James Harden or Ben Simmons?
James Harden has made a living shooting the basketball. According to ESPN.com, the Sixers’ guard has averaged roughly 25 points per game since entering the league in 2009. Since then, Harden has developed a jump shot that terrorizes opposing defenses. His 44 percent shooting from the floor makes Harden a dangerous scoring option.
Ben Simmons’ inability to shoot from the floor was one of the reasons his stay in Philadelphia was cut short. When opportunities to take jump shots presented themselves, Simmons passively passed up the opportunity. His lack of confidence when outside of the paint forced Philadelphia to add additional pressure on other teammates. According to ESPN.com, Ben Simmons has shot only 14.7 percentage from 3-point range since his league debut.
Running an offense through a guard who struggles to shoot efficiently makes it hard for teams to keep up with games changing pace. With players like Stephen Curry and Trae Young scoring at will, it is important to have a guard who can keep you in close games. Adding James Harden to the Sixers roster will improve the team’s offensive efficiency as they try to conquer the Eastern Conference.