Sixers head coach Doc Rivers defended the way he uses Ben Simmons after the team dropped Game 5 against the Hawks Wednesday night, writes Derek Bodner of The Athletic.
Philadelphia had a massive meltdown as a 26-point lead slipped away, and Simmons played a significant role, missing key free throws down the stretch and shooting just 4-of-14 from the line for the game. After talking about the need to be more aggressive, he took just four shots from the field Wednesday, finishing with eight points and nine assists.
Simmons is a miserable 22-of-67 on foul shots during the playoffs, and Atlanta has been taking advantage by intentionally fouling him. As a result, Rivers had to sit Simmons down for several important possessions late in the fourth quarter. That takes the Sixers’ best passer and defender off the court and leaves the team with unfamiliar lineups.
“Do you want to do that?” Rivers said. “The answer would be no. But, you know, when Ben makes ’em, we get to keep him in, when he doesn’t, we can’t. And that’s just the way it is.”
There’s more from Philadelphia:
- Rivers and president of basketball operations Daryl Morey both deserve blame for some of the team’s flaws that are being exposed this series, Bodner adds. Rivers continues to give important minutes to a reserve unit that hasn’t been effective, Bodner notes, while Morey failed to find an alternative backup center to Dwight Howard, who is a bad matchup against spread offenses.
- The Sixers, who also blew an 18-point lead in Game 4, are searching for answers on why they can’t hold on to a big advantage, per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Tobias Harris believes the team loses focus once it gets in front by a comfortable margin. “The weakness right now is when we gain those leads, we kind of go away from what got us there,” Harris said. “That was playing defense, moving the basketball, getting some good looks. And that’s hurt us the last two games.”
- Seth Curry never lost confidence in his shot, even as he struggled to find a place in the NBA, writes Alex Kennedy of Basketball News. Curry had one of the best games of his career Wednesday, posting 36 points, three rebounds, seven three-pointers and two steals in the Game 5 loss.
Ben Simmons is a superstar
Seth Curry plays better than Simmons
I think Embiid is just tired in the 4th quarter, not injured
Simmons needs a blood transfusion from the Curry family. Can you imagine what Simmons could do if he can shoot.
If Simmons could shoot he would be real PG, not a PF playing PG.
Embid is playing way too many minutes and brilliant Doc continues to tell everyone that he’s the best coach in the league. Then we’ve Morey who tells everyone he’s always the smartest guy in the room. What a fitting result for these two idiots.
Simmons is overrated and doc should’ve never gotten another head coaching job after his disastrous tenure with the clippers and I’m a sixers fan. YOU CANT HIT FREE THROWS YOU ARE NOT A STAR. it’s literally insane how this guy is a professional basketball player and can’t hit a free throw. ITS CALLED A FREE THROW FOR A REASON
Lots of players couldn’t hit a free throw. Shaq, Wilt, Dwight. What they have in common they were centers. Learn to shoot the damn ball. Sixers should of traded for Lowry.
I’ll do you one better – they should have traded for Harden
The fact Morey held the trade up about Tyrese Maxey is looking like an all-time bonehead move at the moment.
At this point, I don’t think Houston was ever going to trade for Simmons. IMO, I think they were simply leverage to get Brooklyn to offer the max number of picks possible.
Very possible.
Simmons is sleeping walking in the 4th quarter
Sometimes I can’t see him on the court
He is 6”10”
Coaches need to teach him how to post up Young and Bogdanovic
It’s not Doc’s fault. He isn’t the one out on the court and he isn’t Ben’s first coach.
Thanks for coming on to the forum, Doc.
Seems like there are plenty of NBA players who don’t shoot free throws well, including current and former superstars. If it is so easy, go out and shoot 100 right now and report the results. We’ll wait.
The ARE easy
Yes they are easy. I’m a scrub and I’ll hit the eight out of ten every time. Heck, with a guy in my grill I’ll nail 4 out of 10 from that area.
which would suggest difficulty is only half the battle
Game 6
If Hawks lead by 10 points at the beginning of 4th quarter, 76ers are likely to go fishing
When Embiid is tired, Simmons go to free throw line
As a Hawks fan, I can tell any and every Philly fan that we were not ever worried about Ben Simmons. I don’t know what the perception of him is by the fans locally, but outside of that town I don’t think anyone respects his game. If he weren’t the number one pick in the draft he would never have made an all star team. Think where the divers would be if the drafted Tatum/Brown instead of Simmons/Fultz.
*Sixers*, not divers. Thank you autocorrect.
The Sixers are on their way down, so divers is very applicable.
As a Sixers fan I will tell you that Ben is a hard player to sum up our thoughts on simply. If I had to say how we view him in a word it would either be “frustrating” or as an “enigma”.
We all support him and want him to do well. We appreciate just how great a defender he is and a brilliant playmaker. His athleticism is awesome. It all comes down to the shooting. When he even attempts a 3 pointer, not even makes one, we celebrate like he made a game winning shot. After the last few seasons we gave up hope he would develop an outside shot. Now we just want him to attack the rim, which he can do when he wants. Now he isn’t even doing that.
No one really knows why makes him tick. He doesn’t show his emotions or really tell what he is thinking. It’s like the opposite of Embiid. He is getting the reputation that if you push him too much openly to contribute on offense if you are a coach it turns him off and he reacts poorly. I don’t blame Doc since he has had more success than Brett Brown did and at some point the player is responsible. We are rooting for him, but if they lose to the Hawks I bet he gets traded.
TL;DR
Philly fans support him, we are frustrated by him, and time is running out for him with Embiid.
Shooting 30% from FT will hurt anyone’s ability to get to the rim.
The sad thing with Simmons is even if he was an absolute zero from 3, if he could just be a decent mid range shooter and shoot 75-80% from the line I think he’s putting up 22-9-9’s with All NBA level defense. AKA he’s an All-NBA shoe in every year.
As is he’s basically Thybulle with floor vision.
He’s 10 times the passer and rebounder Thybulle is, that is just silly. It isn’t rocket science what his issues are, he can’t shoot, but “Thybulle with floor vision”?
I don’t disagree he’s 10x the passer, hence “with floor vision”
But Thybulle has twice the defensive impact in terms of BPM. He’s also 10x the 3 point shooter, despite being slightly below league average. And shooting 43% in the playoffs.
I mean, Ricky Rubio was an elite passer and a great perimeter defender for years. He topped out as a slightly above average PG. Being a historically bad shooter torpedos a guy’s value the way the game is currently played.
You didn’t mention, the boards. They matter.
Bro there’s literally social media where people can see that his game is respected, when he plays his game.
He needs to constantly run at full speed and drive to the basket which he doesn’t do. I’ll give you he’s no second option but could easily avg 15-10-10 if he got it together. I don’t know if he can at this point
He’s not a better rebounder if he isn’t trying. He is often posted for backside rebounding but just stands there.
Simmons has the talent to do more but does not. He doesn’t look injured and I suspect he is just sullen about basically being demoted from being the initiator like he used to be. Also being nervous about shooting creates a bad spiral.
It is so much more enjoyable to watch Thybulle! It was at Washington too.
Last night was one of the most Philadelphia things I’ve seen on TV since It’s Always Sunny.
Trade out of Embiid while you still can!
I guess Charlie forgot to put his leg back in the bear trap.
Many Philly fans have been taking this series for granted. Hawks are for real.
They Hawks may or may not be for real, but the Sixers definitely are not.
Hawks were 27-11 in March, April and May.
For real.
Me at the start of the season: Would only trade Ben for a Giannis type player.
Me at the trade deadline: Wouldn’t trade Ben Simmons for a fat James Harden. Would entertain other trades like Dame Lillard or Bradley Beal.
Me towards the end of the season: Would definitely trade Ben Dame Lillard or Bradley Beal.
Me Today: I’ll give you Ben Simmons 4 first, pick swaps, and a stake in ownership for Dame Lillard or Bradley Beal.
Me when they get eliminated: I’ll give you Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, 4 1sts, pick swaps, and rights to the 76er’s franchise. No player in return, just take this trash away.
I would rather watch the process all over again than the two collapses and utterly PATHETIC performances of the last 2 games.
Why would I give up Joel if he’s the only one out there ballin of the Big 3? Because at the end of this, he probably won’t ever be the same.
I gotta admit I have never been a big fan of Embiid, even though he is obviously skilled. He has become a MAN this year though, just an absolute beast. Simmons and Harris? Not championship-caliber when you’re talking your second and third best player.
I love seeing Sixers fans finally realize how overrated their team is.
This is rich coming from Houston Homer.
The Rockets LITERALLY finished with the worst record in the league. I don’t think you grasp the severity of how bad they are and will be next few years. Think of it like when LBJ left Cleveland after 2010. You can clamor on future picks and cap flexibility, but they’ll still hold that L for years to come.
Someone mentioned it a few days ago, this is how Bynum’s career was ruined. This could be the peak Embiid.
Embiid’s offense is reminiscent of Hakeem. He’ll never match the shot blocking totals, but very few dudes can match that and what he does provide is more than enough for today’s game.
I used to be super high on Ben. He’s dead to me with every missed FT. He’s worse than Andre Drummond. They say ‘stick to the routine’ like a fighter wouldn’t stick to the routine if he was getting punched repeatedly in the face. Definition of insanity is doing the same thing expecting different results. He should be doing ANYTHING to make a FT – jump shot, bank shot, underhand, move back from the line, whatever bc this chicken wing FT shot ain’t it.
Tobi – I’ll disagree – he is a quality #3. He isn’t a #2 though.
With him and Giannis I think it has to be mental. Not that they’ve ever been great FT shooters but shooting in the 30’s … idk if that’s form.
Sometimes guys just get shook. I think Nick Anderson lost his shot during the Finals Orlando made in the 90’s and the guy was never the same from the line again.
in hindsight, trading for Harden wouldnt have helped. that’s 100% hindsight, but they wouldn’t be any better off with Harden in this series. healthy, maybe, but you’d be down him and whatever depth + maybe Simmons that would have been required to get him. i dont regret that, it would have been an overpay most likely.
The Hawks should utilize the Hack-a-Simmons strategy on Friday night.
It’s time to calm down. There are lots of reasons the sixers lost. One is they got a huge lead because Atlanta could not find the bucket in the first three quarters, nor could they defend. Two is Atlanta did not give up. They tripled their defensive effort and hit shots in the fourth. Three is it’s fairly common to relax when you have a 24 point lead. Everyone watching had written the game off. It was an unusual comeback. It was gradual until it wasn’t. The sixers like the rest of us thought they were playing the team from the first three quarters. It was not until they got it down to ten that we even noticed they were coming. By then it was too late. Luck, skill, desire blindsided the 76ers. Blaming coaches and players is not going to help anything.
the reality is if Embiid could handle the workload he’s used for they’d be fine with Ben doing what is, in reality, his normal production. the problem is it’s kinda intrinsic with Embiid. he cant play that many minutes and the injuries are to be expected. it’s not his fault, but it requires more to be put around him. personally, very little of this is on Ben, between the aforementioned issues with Joel, Doc’s coaching woes, the bench struggling, Toby’s production basically evaporating. but still, i think moving Ben, presuming his value isnt shot, is something that may have to be done.
Simmons is not a PG. A good passer with great vision does not make him a PG. He should be playing the wing with a PG. Game management is one most important things a PG dies. Ben doesn’t have a clue what that is. Fact they let him play point. Means the don’t want to hurt his feelings. And are just creating a diva. Embiid needs a real PG. Ben needs to shoot .70% FT. Fact he can’t be now. Means Philly is a lost franchise. Ben and Harris should play next to Embiid. Why can’t Ben shoot by now. What has Philly done to get this right. Hawks should not be competing with Sixers.
Again, Hawks 27-11 in March, April and May.
Very good team.
Yes they are. But it’s a young new team. Not accomplished anything. Embiid not even 100%. Knicks weren’t that difficult to figure out. Stop Randle and stop their offense. Beating Sixers would be impressive. Still doesn’t address the PG and Ben.
Because fanboys make excuses for Simmons as he as been pampered his entire life. Th ones who defend him never had to earn a darn thing just like him, so they relate to Simmons and his nonchalant demeanor…
Well, if you remember, before the series I talked about Atlanta having an interesting matchup, especially depending in Embiids health, but mostly knowing Doc Rivers wouldn’t do the things he needed to with his lineups in this matchup. I picked Philly in 6, but thought it would be close. Losing Danny Green is a big deal, especially when Doc Rivers refuses to use certain guys, that played well earlier in the season by the way, in a matchup where you wonder about Atlanta’s wing options, and Philly’s ability to guard the guard spot at times, depending on who they use/dont use…I also talked about Simmins needing to be more aggressive attacking the paint in this series b/c I still dont think anyone Atlanta has can guard him, outside of maybe solomon hill making it tougher for him
Dont get why Simmons isnt being used as a small 5 in this matchup
Why not play Simmons at the #4 a la Draymond Green? Draymond is a tough defender, not a great rebounder, scores half the amount Simmons does and is a great passer, the W’s point man. Of course you then need to make sure you have three or four OTHER guys on the floor who CAN sboot.Re: free shows, Rick Barry used to offer to tutor players on his unique style of making 90% of his FTs and hardly anyone was even interested. Too bad.
Ben “Overrated” Simmons
The backup 5 to small offenses is supposed to be Ben Simmons….
He’s not that, a 5, or a 4 or wing, he is showing that now, maybe intentionally. Simmons is 1 of 2 1s perhaps, with the other backcourter taking lead on pace. He can be hard to keep up with all game, probably even for himself. I’ll quit now.
With most guys it’s really a pretty big mental hurdle. But with Simmons it’s a major mechanical error. Elbow has to be under the ball pointing in front of you (mostly. If you’re going to have some crazy form or shoot from the side of your head like Larry Bird then you have to shoot a thousand shots a day for many years. That’s the only way to overcome form that isn’t exactly right.)
If you watch Ben Simmons from behind instead of the common side view we get on TV you can see his left elbow, his shooting elbow, is pointing towards the sideline not the Baseline. Accuracy is difficult to achieve with crap form like that.
He needs to spend a summer or perhaps longer as many players who want to correct their shooting form do with one hand behind your back and your shooting arm doing 100% of the work of the shot. Steph Curry, Grant Hill are two I know for sure have done this drill an entire summer. You cannot direct the ball towards the basket one arm behind your back and your shooting elbow pointed to the sideline.
Here’s another thought.. I have a buddy that broke his wrist or arm and started shooting with his other hand. He became a decent shooter and his form was perfect because he really learned it in the proper way instead of borrowing his motion that he’s been using since he was twelve with his strong hand. You Shooters out there know what I’m talking about. It’s the “hand in the cookie jar on the top shelf.”
Ben is one hell of a player, but he’s miscast, misused, and simply not the right player for what this team needs. this team CAN win with Ben – but more than likely he’s the best way for you to trade for a proper wingman for Embiid.
Good take, I agree. I would LOVE Ben Simmons on the Warriors. I would give up a lot to get him.
and I hope teams do. again, I dont dislike Ben, i just think parting ways may be the best for all parties. given the musical chairs that happen just about every offseason, its very possible someone can offer a decent return that doesnt involve getting back pennies on the dollar.
De’Aaron Fox for Ben—contracts match w/in 3m.
Sacramento needs to do something, why not roll the dice on Simmons reaching his potential with a change of scenery?
And Fox would be a legit PG and a guy who can “go get a bucket” at the end of games.
My guess is Fox is going to be at the high end of players Philly will be able to get for Ben this summer. I don’t see guys of the caliber of Dame (if available) on the table any longer.