[OhCanada-Participant]

 Its a rap. 

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

If Simmons made a three, but China couldn’t see it, did it really happen?

[BlueRivers25Participant]

 MIP: Simmons or Ball

[EndlessknightParticipant]

Still got Ball. Think he’s going to have a break out year.

[EndlessknightParticipant]

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/76ers/ben-simmons-3-pointer-sixers-preseason-game-wells-fargo-center

All he has to do is take the wide open 3s and make 30% of them. If he can do that he’s a future MVP candidate.

[OhCanada-Participant]

I think Im the only one who thinks Simmons played great in the series against Toronto. Everyone was bashing him but the guy made everything we did so difficult and his toughness was hard to deal with. I really liked him in that low usage glue guy role. Hes a baller and he earned my respect for sure.

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 Simmons with a jumper is basically the next Lebron.

[The GoatParticipant]

 This was always going to happen but I’m glad the monkey is off his back in preseason. They are a very difficult unit if all 5 starters can hit the long ball, cos they are all very good sizes for their positions.  

[XYRYXParticipant]

 Good for him, really! Maybe the monkey is off his back now. But it needed a yelling Embiid, a 38 point lead in the 2nd quarter and kind of buzzer beater in a meaningless game against a terrible opponent to shoot this one. I really hope he has fixed not only his form (it looked good) but also his mindset about refusing to shoot them at all from now on. 

On a side note Steven Adams took his first 3 pointer of his career. It was a corner three just about 9 seconds into the game against the Mavs on the first possession of the game. He made it.
Watch out for the Kiwi this season, he might explode in front of our eyes with a complete different role. 

[HitsterParticipant]

 I noticed that Ben had made one, didn’t realise it was Big Steve’s first too. Both level with the great Shaq now!

The Thunder played a 3 guard starting unit with Gallo and Adams to make up the 5 so it might be a fast moving unit this season and CP3 could well increase Adams’ output.

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

I think you’ll see him take and even make the occasional 3 this year, but it’s still a long way from being something that will be a major part of his game or that defenses will respect. But any progress is good I guess. I’d like to see him develop some consistency from 15-18 feet and gradually work his way out to 3. Of some concern is the fact that he was 2-6 from the ft line.

[EndlessknightParticipant]

I don’t think Simmons will ever been a great shooter. Probably top out at 70% from the line and 30% from 3. But that should be enough to keep defenders honest, they won’t be able to sag off him and collapse on Embiid. That coupled with refinements to other aspects of his game is going to make Simmons a monster to guard.

[BKGingerSnapParticipant]

It’s really great he made a 3 up 37 in a preseason game against a chinese team but there is a far bigger elephant in the room which his free throw shooting.  He shot 60% from the free throw line last regular season and 57.5% in the playoffs on only 3.3 free throws a game. One of the reasons he dissapears at the of games is he is afraid of shooting free throws. I know being able to hit 3’s is cool and everything but the free throw shooting is far far far more important. 

[EndlessknightParticipant]

In 22 career playoff games Simmons FT% is 65.3%. I don’t think improving 4.7 percentage points is that big of an ask.

[BeastMode716Participant]

 comtender at 23 y/o. He’s one the best 2 way players in the NBA already. Toronto players & coaches talked openly about how brutal it was to even get good looks for shots w/ the inside / outside combination of Embiid & Simmons length, size & athleticism 

His FT% crept up from 56% to 60% last year & if he can continue to push that up over 65% it makes him a much more dangerous player late in games b/c in the 1st 2 years it was clear he was scared to be on the FT line late in games

If Simmons gets that FT% up into the 65- 70% range & he’s willing take 3’s & mid range jump shots then as he grows into his prime we’re talking about a top 10 player

Simmons is such a unique case b/c almost immediatley he’s been Elite in some of the toughest parts of the NBA game, mastering the PG position, Defense & he’s got a great attitude, totally team oriented. When Butler was added & the ball was put in his hands late Simmons did not pout or even seem remotely upset, he just worked harder on Defense.

So it’s crazy when a guy this young can do all this amazing ish & have his head screwed on straight but he cant shoot free throws or jump shots – something Every single one us no talent regular people do every time we walk into a gym or a play ground court. 

So imagine if Simmons continues to slowly improve in these areas – say he takes the next 3 years to get his FT% up to 70% & he avg’s 3 – 3pt shots per game & he shoots just 30% from 3pt range – which is not asking much & little by little his confidence grows – we’re talking about a kid who in 3 years will be 25 years old & almost ungaurdable at one end & plays elite defense at the other

[OhCanada-Participant]

 See this is exactly what I mean. Great job explaining this. Second round of the playoffs I would like to see his usage % in comparison to the 1st round. I havent seen it but if someone can dig that up somewhere that would be awesome.

He goes from being the primary ballhandler on the offensive end to being an offensive rebounder. From gaurding Jared Dudley to gaurding Siakam and Leonard and he slowed down Siakam. Lost by one jumpshot which he and Embiid doubled and heavily contested, wtf are they supposed to do really. No complaints, even when the media bashed him he didnt say "well maybe if Coach gave me the ball". He just kept playing his ass off.

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