The 2019-20 season isn’t exactly over just yet. It is in suspension due to the global coronavirus pandemic, but there is still a hope that the league can resume and finish up the season. However, there is no better time than now to take time and look back and do some rankings from the season.
Everybody loves talking point guards and the Philadelphia 76ers have themselves a pretty darn good one in Ben Simmons. With the season on hold and everybody itching for some basketball talk, Bleacher Report ranked the top 15 point guards in the game, and Simmons came in ranked fourth in the league just behind Chris Paul, Damian Lillard, and Luka Doncic.
B/R on Simmons:
The operative word here is “superstar.” Simmons is flirting with the pinnacle of his profession while skirting one of its most sought-after skills. That speaks to everything else he does, particularly on defense. He can lock down lifelines for entire games.
Nobody in the league qualifies as a more versatile defender. Simmons has spent at least 17 percent of his time guarding every position on the floor, save for center, according to Nylon Calculus’ Krishna Narsu. And among every player who has logged at least 1,000 minutes, only Terrance Ferguson and Royce O’Neale have racked up more reps against No. 1 options.
Simmons has turned into one of the elite defenders in the league and he should be in the running for Defensive Player of the Year for 2020. Despite his offensive shortcomings, the way he can affect the game in such a huge way is nothing short of impressive. [lawrence-related id=32464,32456,32447]