There
are a lot of ways to describe Philadelphia 76ers rookie lead guard Ben Simmons on
the basketball court. Talented, skilled, efficient, thrilling, dazzling, and exceptional.
After missing is official rookie season because of a broken right foot, he has
come into this season and exceeded all expectations, and that has especially
been the case recently.
In
the Sixers (43-30) seventh consecutive win on Monday night, Simmons had just
seven points, but 13 rebounds and 11 assists in leading his team to a 123-104
win versus the Denver Nuggets.
Just
48 hours prior, Simmons garnered his 10th triple-double of the
seasons with 15 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists, with two steals in the
Sixers 120-108 versus the up-and-down Minnesota Timberwolves (42-33).
Besides
authoring his 10th triple-double in the season, it was the fourth in
the last seven games for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, which tied
the 22-year-old Australian just the second rookie in the history of the
National Basketball Association to accomplish this. The other was Hall of Famer
Oscar Robertson, who did it in the 1960-61 NBA campaign.
Simmons
also became the first rookie since Robertson to average a triple-double in a
seven-game span. Those averages by Simmons in the last seven games entering Monday
nights tilt versus the Nuggets were 12.7 points, an NBA-leading 11.6 assists
and 10.4 boards, with an NBA-leading four triple-doubles in that span.
On
top of that, in just one season he has tied NBA on TNT studio analyst, Hall of
Famer and former Sixer Charles Barkley for the third most triple-doubles in
franchise history.
When
asked after the game on Saturday night if he was the 2018 Rookie of the Year,
Simmons said, “I think so.”
“The
play I’ve had over the season has been pretty consistent. I’m doing things that
haven’t been done in a while.”
Among
the things that have not been done in a while for a rookie is take them from
the basement of a respective conference in the NBA to the brink of home court
advantage.
With
as mentioned earlier, with their victory versus the Nuggets on Monday night, the
Sixers moved a half-game lead over the No. 5 Seeded Indiana Pacers (43-30) for
the No. 4 spot in the Eastern Conference Playoff chase and are just one game
behind the three-defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers (44-29) for the No. 3
spot.
It
has been a long climb from the Sixers rebuilding mantra “Trust the Process” to having
earned their first playoff berth since 2012, and the play of Simmons is a big
reason.
For
most rookies, the come into the league wanting to make a splash with their
scoring and having the rest of their game mature as their career progresses.
With
Simmons, he came into this league as a ‘6’10” point guard, who did not have the
greatest jump shot, but had the ability to get to the bucket and score
effectively. But as far as rebounding; making plays for others; running head
coach Brett Brown’s offense and being able to be a solid defender, he has grown
each game in both of those areas.
That
all-around game is also the reason, why All-Star center Joel Embiid has also
flourished this season. His ability to take on the scoring load has allowed
Simmons to grow as a scorer at the offensive end. That has allowed the Sixers
to win consistently, with Simmons having night where he scores in
single-digits.
His
ability to make plays for others is why the likes of sharp shooters in veterans
J.J. Redick, Marco Bellinelli, and Ersan Ilyasova, Robert Covington and the
other starting forward Dario Saric have been able to make open shots with
Simmons ability to penetrate, be found on kickouts for open three-pointers, in
between jumpers or layups at the basket.
The
Sixers also got back rookie guard Markelle Fultz, who had 10 points and eight
assists in 14 minutes off the bench. It was the first game for in the No. 1 overall
pick in last June’s draft since Oct. 23, 2017 at the Detroit Pistons from
shoulder soreness.
The
other thing Simmons brought to the table this season is an ability to compete
and not be afraid of making plays in clutch moments in the game.
A
perfect example of this came in the team’s 118-113 win versus the Washington Wizards
(40-33) on Nov. 29, 2017.
On
this night, Simmons had career-highs of 31 points and 18 rebounds, with two
steals and two block shots, but it is what he did at the charity stripe that
made the difference.
After
the Wizards cut a 22-point deficit to single-digits with five minutes left in
the fourth period, the Wizards started fouling Simmons, he made six of his
final eight at the line, going 15 for 29 on the evening to help the Sixers
close the book on that contest.
Simmons
in the final quarter shot 24 of the Sixers 35 opportunities at the foul line,
setting a new franchise record for attempts in a period. He also set a new NBA
single-game record for free throws attempted in a quarter in NBA history.
When
asked by NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Molly Sullivan about his thoughts when he
was put on the foul line 12 straight times at one point in the fourth, and as
mentioned 24 times overall in the period, Simmons said, “Make the free throw,
that’s about it. That doesn’t really phase me. That’s about it.”
To
put into perspective how unprecedented it was that Simmons had 24 chances at
the foul line in the fourth period that night, that is four more than two
notoriously bad free throw shooters in former Detroit Pistons All-Star center
Ben Wallace, and current Charlotte Hornets’ All-Star big man Dwight Howard had
in a game in their careers. The 18 attempts that Clippers center DeAndre Jordan
had once is second and Howard follows him with 17 attempts in a quarter.
“I
have no fear of taking free throws,” Simmons said after the game. “It’s not going
to happen for much longer.”
Coach
Brown expressed those same feelings by saying after the win, “We decided to
roll with Ben and it’s going to be part of his evolution.”
“He’s
going to have a long career and he has to navigate through this. It’s going to
be part of his growth.”
Embiid,
who had 25 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks, going 13 for 18 at the foul
line on the night gave his teammate some props for what he did saying he, “trust
Ben to step up and he did a great job.”
By
the numbers, and how he has helped the Sixers be in the fight for home court
advantage gives Ben Simmons the edge for Rookie of the Year this season. After
being out for a season because of the previously mentioned broken right foot,
he has played very well. Been even better then advertised, and with some work
on his jump shot and his free throw stroke in the off-season, he will be an unstoppable
force as he matures in his career.
His
growth along with that of Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, and Markelle Fultz that
makes the Sixers future so bright that everyone in the city of “Brotherly Love”
and all Sixers fans across the globe will have to wear shades. A future that hopefully
will equate to a couple of Larry O’Brien trophies or more.
Information,
statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 11/30/17 2 a.m. edition of NBATV’s “Gametime,”
presented by Kia with Casey Stern, Dennis Scott, and Carlos Boozer; 3/25/18 2 a.m.
edition of NBATV’s “Gametime,” presented by Kia with Matt Winer, David Aldridge,
Billy King, and Mike Fratello; 3/26/18 3 p.m. edition of “NBA: The Jump” on
ESPN with Rachel Nichols, Brian Windhorst, and Paul Pierce; www.espn.com/nba/player/gameloge/_/id/3907387/ben-simmons;
www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/4066636/markelle-fultz;
www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/phi/philadelphia-76ers;
www.espn.com/nba/standing; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Simmons.
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