For years, the 76ers –– while having an abundance of raw talent and star power year in and out –– have never had a true microwave scorer off the bench. Well, that is already looking like a moot point thanks to Anfernee Simons who, in just his first appearance for Philadelphia, gave a glimpse into what he is capable of doing as a starting-caliber guard filling a nominal sixth man role for the team who can carry the offense on his own when needed.
In recent years, the 76ers have had Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre Jr., as their go-to options for bench scoring. While those players were more than serviceable in their own ways, none of them tout the same ilk as Simons'. To cut to the chase, he is simply the better player. But what distinguishes him from those guys is his ample repertoire of tools on the scoring end.
76ers have their most well-rounded bench scorer yet in Anfernee Simons
With a lightning-quick release, Simons is a feasible operator with or without the ball. Thanks to his time in Portland, where he was their go-to guy for a few years, he is comfortable finding his way through the defense and hitting shots from anywhere.
That also allows him to be an adaptable off-ball player. He is arguably the best pure shooter the 76ers have, and cold spells do not really faze him. In fact, he hit three triples during their last game against the Knicks in the third quarter, showcasing his ability to get into rhythm without necessarily having control over the tempo of the game. He has his own pace, so to speak.
Unlike with Grimes and Oubre, who are iffy shooters for the most part, the 76ers are able to get a lot more creative in finding pockets of scoring opportunities with Simons. Nick Nurse had him curl off screens in their season opener, which is made possible by the fact that Simons is a movement shooter.
The 76ers have not had this mix of independent shot creation and off-ball utility from their main bench player in recent years. While this team is already loaded with scoring talent, players like Simons can help any squad win a lot in the regular season while also tilting games in the playoffs. After all, that element of surprise on the offensive end can make defenses stutter in just a flick.
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