The Sixers became the latest victim of a scorching-hot Jazz team on Monday night, but the play of Ben Simmons, who lined up at center in place of late scratch Joel Embiid, was extremely encouraging, as Tim Bontemps of ESPN details. Simmons scored a career-high 42 points to go along with 12 assists and nine rebounds, and acknowledged after the game that he was playing as aggressively on offense as he has since entering the league.
“There’s nights where I feel like I am dominant, but it may not look like a 40-point game,” Simmons said. “I might have a triple-double and we might win by 20, whatever the case is. It might be on defense. (But) yeah, I definitely had to pick up the slack with Joel out.”
The Sixers will need that version of Simmons to show up more often – especially when Embiid is active – if they want to be a legit championship contender this season, Bontemps notes.
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- The Sixers are said to be in the market for a point guard, but David Murphy of The Philadelphia Inquirer believes the team would be better off targeting a three-and-D wing who can play solid defense against opposing guards.
- While he acknowledges that including Norman Powell in a trade for a center may be a necessary move, Doug Smith of The Toronto Star contends that Andre Drummond is not the answer for the Raptors. Toronto was said on Monday to be engaged in trade discussions with the Cavaliers about the veteran center.
- Although Kevin Durant wasn’t active for it, the Nets‘ win over Sacramento on Monday – in which James Harden and Kyrie Irving combined for 69 points, 17 assists, and 15 three-pointers – was “the vision” for how the team should be performing, according to Harden. Malika Andrews of ESPN has the story and the quotes.
- After learning in practice from the Nets‘ veteran stars earlier in the season, rookie Reggie Perry is now looking to make the most of his experience in the G League bubble with Long Island, writes Alex Schiffer of The Athletic. Perry, who has averaged 19.0 PPG and 10.0 RPG through four NBAGL games, will return to Brooklyn once the G League season ends next month.
I have always wanted to see the Simmons/Embid pairing with a true 3&D SF. Add an SG that shoots the 3 & gets after it on D, and nobody is defeating Philly.
Dipo might be worth experimenting with? Harris would be decent next to Wood in HOU also. Dipo is a huge risk, but he is likely a whole lot better offensively than Danny Green in that role.
That’s an interesting proposal. Obv like you said dipo carries some risk.
Another intriguing idea for Sixers could be to make a move for jerami grant & delon Wright. Would solve backup PG, another defender for Giannis/Durant in grant who can also score.
Not sure what they’d give up maybe Harris and/or Maxey plus picks. DET is rebuilding so I’d imagine they’re available for the right price.
What is the best indicator for defensive stats?
Last week Ben Simmons said that he is the best defensive player in the nba this season
Defensive FG %, the lower the better
Wiggins 39.3%
Simmons 42.3%
Measured by opponent shot attempts and field goal
Wiggins is top 5 all season long for qualifiers
Block ranking
Wiggins ranks at 12
Simmons rank at 46
Single basic stats don’t show that much. DBPM, DRtg, DWS look at a bigger picture. Nothing is perfect and better than observation over time.
Sixers need a 3 and D wing? Wasn’t that supposed to be Danny Green? lol. He’s so trash. Cut him already.
Amazing to me Ben still won’t shoot threes. His FT% has gotten better. He should be able to shoot open threes by now. It’s crazy lol.
“The Sixers became the latest victim of a scorching-hot Jazz team on Monday night,”
Really ???? Without Embiid not really meaningful.
Also, Jordan Clarkson isnt going to make 8 for 13 3s, and I think it was like 5 or 6 in a row without a miss, again. When he shoots 10+ usually hes only making 2 to 4. And that explains the outcome of this game.
Clarkson is having a good yr. Sixers still came to play without Embiid. That’s a good sign. Howard had a good gm and Ben had monster gm. Harris had 36 and 10. Jazz closed out on 21-4 run. Sixers are for real. It was a good gm.
Seems to be a different player (or more) every game for the Jazz. Jordan Clarkson has been exceptional all season for the Jazz. They are for real.
Bring back JJ and he can add to the 3’s that DG is not hitting.
I think Perry’s improvement along with Claxton’s healing let the Nets feel comfortable dropping Norvel Pelle for a wing defender.
Everyone making trade suggestions for the Sixers. Just let this team be. Doc has them playing some of the best basketball in the east and in the league. The Jazz have the best record in the league and are playing really well and we didn’t have Joel Embiid who is playing like the MVP. So just chill on these trade ideas.
None of this he need or if we did this just leave it for now. The only really thing we are missing is a combo forward for off the bench cause currently Mike Scott plays that role and he’s kinda garbage.
We have multiple young trade pieces we could throw away but we won’t be making any big moves. Why change something that’s working well.
Simmons isn’t shooting 3’s but his FT% is better, they are winning games and against the Jazz he dropped 42. Once he’s comfortable shooting threes which I think he will one day he will have some 50 point games but for now I’m happy with him dropping 20-10-10, that’s going to be LeBron/Doncic like numbers one he adds a three.
That’s why I said to leave Utah be… though they do need a shutdown guard.
Yeah, I’d say the only difference is that I think the Sixers actually have a team capable of taking out the championship tho.
If Embiid is at his best he is arguably the best big in the game. Simmons is a shutdown defender who gives you 20-10-10, Harris is balling and we have a bunch of good shooters and nice role players. Whereas I’d say the Jazz are just regular season champs but not a serious title contender. I think a few teams in the west could beat them and it would take something very special for them to just make the final to be honest. They remind me of the Raptors when they had Lowry and DeRozan, often had the best record but Bron would beat them in the first and second round every year
Ben stats this yr are 15.2 pts, 8 ast, 7.3 reb. His pts are pts are down from previous 3 yrs. His FG% is very good. His FT% has gotten better. (Shoot .70% FT. You can shoot open looks) And I agree he’s a shut down defender. But in his fourth yr. He should be able to make 28-30% of his threes. He doesn’t even attempt them his career 3pt% is .10%. That means in playoffs he can be defended. Cause a team can prepare for that. Imo he should be playing more as a wing. 4-3 where he doesn’t have to shoot threes. And can post his defender take him off the dribble. Until he gets to at least 27% 3s he will have issues. Cause he doesn’t even shoot 12-15ft open shots. And I’m a Ben fan.