After the Sixers suffered through a seven-game second-round playoff exit as the top seed, head coach Doc Rivers has stated that the club will address the shooting struggles of All-Star Ben Simmons during the offseason, per Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
“I believe, without going into detail with what we’re doing, I believe we know what the right work is, and the right type of work, and the right way to do it,” Rivers said of the Sixers’ plan for Simmons. “We’re not hiding that Ben has to become a better free throw shooter and a more confident free throw shooter.”
During the playoffs this season, Simmons connected on just 34.2% of his 6.1 free throw attempts per game, and attempted one total three-pointer. The Sixers guard was timid in looking to score late in games. He had just three fourth-quarter field goal attempts in the entire series, fewer than role players Dwight Howard, Matisse Thybulle, George Hill, Tyrese Maxey, and Furkan Korkmaz.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- Several key Nets players will be free agents during the 2021 offseason, prompting Michael Scotto of HoopsHype to project the market value for the likes of Spencer Dinwiddie, Blake Griffin, Bruce Brown and Jeff Green. The league executives Scotto spoke with speculated that Dinwiddie is looking to leave Brooklyn and will hope to command an annual salary in the “high teens.” Rival NBA executives peg the value of both Griffin and Green as ranging anywhere from the bi-annual exception to the taxpayer mid-level exception. Because Brown is a restricted free agent, the Nets will be able to match any offer sent his way. Executives project Brown to net a yearly salary between $4-7MM.
- The Nets might not just be undergoing some changes on the hardwood. Their sideline may look a bit different for the 2021/22 season too, as many assistants are in the running for the seven currently available NBA head coaching jobs, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post. Berman writes that assistant coach Mike D’Antoni appears to be a finalist for the Trail Blazers head coaching gig, while fellow assistant coach Ime Udoka is in the running for the Celtics’ vacancy.
- For the first time, Celtics team president Brad Stevens has discussed his decision to trade point guard Kemba Walker and two picks to the Thunder in exchange for Moses Brown, old friend Al Horford, and a 2023 second-round draft pick, per Tim Bontemps of ESPN. “The ability to make our wings (All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown) better is going to be a huge part of the people that will be around them,” Stevens said Monday in explaining the thinking behind the deal. Stevens, of course, coached Walker for two injury-plagued seasons before moving into the front office earlier this month. Stevens also cited future finances as a consideration in his decision.
Lebron James has been awfully quiet during this Ben Simmons feeding frenzy.
Lebron went all kudos for Ben (and Draymond) when he was named on the NBA All-NBA Defensive Team just a week ago.
Where’s the public love for his Klutch client now.
ScreenshotOfLebronLeavingTheCourtEarly.jpg
Ben Simmons being absolutely useless on offense doesn’t negate the fact that he’s one of the best defenders in the NBA.
If he commits to aggressively scoring the ball, and decides to shoot with his dominant right hand, the 76ers will unlock a MVP candidate. The choice is his
He needs to add some annoying, get under your skin type crap that Rodman used to do if he is going to be limited in his offensive contribution along with the free throw shooting improvement.
but do you want to pay $140 million for that defense and playmaking? you can get that for much cheaper.
It doesn’t negate it, but he still can’t shoot for scheisse.
Let’s go straight forward
GMs need to give Rivers a better 6th man such as Ginobili
When Simmons is not playable, Ginobili comes in
Rivers is no longer a good playoffs coach, therefore bench players need to be great
@WallyWood, Fultz had a physical limitation that prevented him from properly raising his arms to shoot. Simmons has a mental limitation preventing him from shooting. He must get his mind right
in his prime Tony Allen was one of the best defenders in the NBA. In the playoffs the Grizzlies had to keep him on the bench and no one would pay him $30 mil a year like ben is getting. being good at defense and nothing else as a point guard doesn’t work and isn’t acceptable in the modern game
what CAN or SHOULD he say? there’s nothing that can make this go away. #nospin
Remember “Trust The Process”?
Turns out “The Process” was ruining perfectly good shooting mechanics and won’t end up winning any titles – call it the Moneyball of the NBA.
who says they changed his shooting process? In college he shot exclusively from the 2pt area and about 67% from FT? What’s changed? Nada. Im not going to say he isn’t trying but he certainly isn’t getting better. he’s an overpaid player.
Damn… knowledgeable Nets’ fans know Spencer Dinwiddie was the most important player to keep BECAUSE Kyrie Irving struggles to complete seasons healthy and compete every game in the Playoffs. Dinwiddie was our insurance policy in case our Ferrari got into an accident. Our convertible Camaro got into a bad accident and we never got it back in time.
Now Dinwiddie will price himself out of our budget, and deservedly so… unless we trade Joe Harris.
No matter what happens, we need a quality RELIABLE backup PG behind Kyrie. I wish Spencer much success no matter what happens going forward
Isn’t this the same team tgat was going to fix Markelle Fultz’s shooting after they drafted him? Guess I don’t have a lot of faith in the Sixers ability to correct this type of problem.
If they couldn’t fix Fultz, they’re not gonna fix Simmons either.
@WallyWood, Fultz had a physical limitation that prevented him from properly raising his arms to shoot. Simmons has a mental limitation preventing him from shooting. He must get his mind right
maybe it’s something the player has to fix. I’ts been an issue from day one
Not a Nets fan but why wasn’t Jordan playing at all. Nets could of used his 6 hard fouls when Giannis went to the basket.
I’m a Nets’ fan. DeAndre is a negative player: a zero on offense, maybe 0.5 points, and -3 on defense. He showed his value to us when Jarrett Allen completely outclassed him. And to think that was one of he reasons why Kenny Atkinson ain’t coaching the Nets…
Sixers didn’t even make the conference final with a starting 5 of Embiid, Harris, Butler, Simmons and Redick. Organization just can’t win against top dog teams in the playoffs.
They lost on the luckiest of lucky shots against the eventual nba champion. Just don’t even.
Embiid had his share also on why the sixers lost with his couple of turnovers in the 4th!
Why exactly did you sign Jordan. To Not play him in playoffs. An ex DPY. I like Nash, but gotta admit . He did show he was a rookie coach. He will lose DAntoni next yr too. McGee a much better fit and only 3 mill a yr. Gives them 20-25 mins of rim protection. Jordan was signed just to please KD. Nice to have friends lols.
Simmons still has plenty value. But I can’t say this enough…….. Ben is NOT a PG. Why would he want to play for an organization that let him do this to himself. Doc just figured out NOW, we got work to do. Ben needs to go somewhere and play SF or PF. Needs to post more. And for gods sake learn to shoot. He came in a 60% FT shooter. The Mailman was worse. He got better. That dunk he didn’t take, Says it all. Thybulle was the most surprised person in arena dudes. He’s lost all confidence. Go to Minny and learn to shoot. They can use your D.
Simmons for Buddy Hield or Simmons for Brogdan & Jeremy Lamb…
Wasn’t it two years ago we heard the same thing about fixing Simmons shot ? The problem is, what value will you get for him in a trade since his liabilities are well known to all.
Would never happen, but….. Simmons along side Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum…….. What a fit that would be.