I'm just pointing out that a system in which Simmons was a major foundational piece did not play any faster than Portland has with Dame. Besides, it's all moot as is. No team is running up and down every possession in the playoffs anyway-- even if we potentially design a system that can play faster, it will only be in the regular season.
always glad to have Philadelphia fans remind everyone why Philadelphia fans have such a positive reputation.
The last thing the Blazers need right now is a player who has tons of potential but cant get out of their own head (Meyers Leonard, anyone?). Hard pass.
Except Simmons is an elite defender (2nd in DPOY voting) and an elite passer. Now, his mental offensive issues right now make him a liability as a PG at the end of a game, but we have that PG thing taken care of here. Also, if anyone can get his head right, it is Dame. Do I expect him to become a lights out 3-pt shooter? No, but to get to where he puts pressure on a defense and can knock down a FT at around a 70% rate? Doesn't seem unreasonable.
If we ended up with Chauncey as coach, he's certainly used to playing with a defensive maestro who can't shoot for shit...
he shot 71% from the line in the playoffs his first year. And he's been at 60+ his whole career until this one. it's definitely possible. keep going back to my doc rivers is trash idea. His teams don't practice, and he's on Stotts' level in terms of making adjustments. And while he talks up his players in the media, I don't think he really encourages guys behind the scenes (as evidenced by how quickly and easily he threw Simmons under the bus just moments after Game 7). All season long, whenever criticism was levied against Ben's lack of shooting, he pointed out Simmons' defense and passing. But the moment it actually cost him a playoff series, he did not hesitate to eviscerate him in public. Simmons needs a guy who will give him some tough love. Needs someone who will empower him to shoot and be OK if he misses, because the potential is too great if he can figure it out. I don't even think he needs a three point shot-- just a floater/FT line jumper and he will be the perfect P&R release valve with Dame. Maybe send him down to Phil Beckner with Dame and lock him in a gym this whole summer.
The phrase "feeding frenzy" springs to mind: (I really hope that, wherever Ben Simmons is right now, he doesn't have the internet.)
I think to get the best out of him you play him at C at least half the time, he's 6'11 and 240 and is a good fit next to any PF that can hit the 3. I think if Zach was ever healthy he and Simmons could fit well together. Then you trade Nurk as well, Simmons becomes a great pick and roll target and in essence a "point C" as well
Re-sign Norman Powell, trade CJ for Simmons. We get bigger, much better defensively, and Simmons would not need to be a scorer, taking a ton of pressure off him. CJ and Embiid would complement each other perfectly, and Embiid would hide CJ's defensive flaws. It's a win-win. Make it so!
The mere fact that an NBA athlete can’t make a jumper or 3 means he is a legit mental midget. What’s he doing all offseason? It’s unbelievable that he is so awful on offense, there is no physical or athletic reason for it. If you watch Chris Dudley play it’s like ok I get it. Ben Simmons is an athlete. But he mentally can’t do it. That might change somehow but I would not sit around and wait for it. I would take Ben Simmons if it was a crazy low price.
I think Doc Rivers is too old school in that regard, but also, he's an incredibly overrated coach. So I bet there's a lot of truth to this post (regarding him being detrimental to Paul George and Ben Simmons).
I'll disagree with Hollinger that Simmons is a good fit next to Vuc. Sure, he helps defensively, but while Vuc can shoot threes, he prefers to play in the post. Furthemore, look at that roster minus LaVine... that becomes a seriously offensively challenged group... like, really bad. I'll admit that Hollinger has always been a really strange one for me. I get that he was behind PER, but some his takes are really bizarre.
