Ben Simmons has turned a lot of heads this year and has almost single-handedly turned things around for Philadelphia. With a shift in the Eastern Conference, don’t be surprised to see the 76ers contending for a playoff spot later in the season.
The LSU product was drafted first overall in the 2016 NBA Draft and injuries have been a theme for him, as he had a late start to his NBA career. His Point Forward play-style makes him a threat on both ends of the court. His 6’10″ build allows him to be a presence on the glass, and he isn’t afraid to get out and run the break. Averaging close to a triple-double (17.8 PTS, 8 AST, 10.8 REB), he’s made guys like Joel Embiid, and Robert Covington better, and it’s showing.
The thing with having a guy like Simmons is that he can play all five positions on the court, something that Philadelphia hasn’t had since Andre Iguodala. Simmons has been nothing but impressive this season and has Head Coach Brett Brown speechless. “I didn’t realize that he was going to be as gifted athletically, immediately,” Brown said. “I see it clearly now,” “You wished and you hoped, but you didn’t know… Now, I know.” (The Inquirer). If only his personality matched up with his play, then I’d have a bit more respect for the guy.
This is a great sign moving forward for Philadelphia, they’ve had their fair share of young talent, and it’s finally being put together. The depth on this roster is why we see this team performing like they are:
Joel Embiid
Ben Simmons
Dario Saric
JJ. Reddick
Robert Covington
Jerryd Bayless
Nik Stauskas
Overall, the future is bright in Philadelphia, and with the East being the weaker conference, I see the 76ers locking down a possible seventh or eighth seed when it’s all said and done.
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