For all that has been made about Ben Simmons’ shortcomings in last year’s second round playoff series between the Philadelphia 76ers and Atlanta Hawks, he’s actually been quite fine as a playoff performer over the course of his career. No team knows this more than the one that just acquired him at yesterday’s trade deadline, the Brooklyn Nets.
Simmons’ averages aren’t much different from regular season to postseason. But a series in 2019 against the Nets stands out among the best in his career – he shot 64% over five games, still the highest out of his six career series. And he had D’Angelo Russell in a torture chamber, as the Nets guard finished the series just 36% from the field and 32% from three.
Maybe more impressive, Simmons bounced back to have a great series after an embarrassing Game 1 loss that saw the Sixers booed by the home crowd. He scored just nine points in the game.
Simmons responded with a triple-double in Game 2. He had 18 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists and two steals in a win. It remains one of three career playoff triple-doubles for Simmons. But he wasn’t done there. In Game 3, with Joel Embiid ruled out due to knee soreness, Simmons dropped 31 points in what remains his playoff career high.
He was near unstoppable, going 11-of-13 from the field while adding four rebounds, nine assists, two steals and three blocks. Over the final four games of the series, Simmons averaged 19 points on 68% shooting, seven rebounds and nine assists.
Concerns about Simmons’ lack of offensive aggression or seeming to shrink in big moments were warranted after last postseason. His free throw percentage dropped to 34% in the playoffs, down from 61% in the regular season and 71% in his first postseason. However, shooting has always been his weakness, and one series against the Hawks shouldn’t define who he’s been over the course of his career.
You acquire Simmons not to replace what James Harden brought as a scorer but because the triple-double threat remains while having a bigger defensive impact. That 2019 series against Brooklyn showed the highs he can provide at the top of his game, playoffs or not. It’s why even after parting with Harden, the Nets remain a favorite to win the Eastern Conference at +220 odds on Tipico Sportsbook.