Tag: Ben Simmons

Al Horford praises Ben Simmons for Sixers’ offensive success vs. Spurs

Philadelphia 76ers big man Al Horford praises Ben Simmons for the team’s offensive success.

Philadelphia 76ers big man Al Horford has been looking to really find his offensive niche with his new team, but he hadn’t been able to really find that role just yet. On Friday night, he found some offensive success in a Sixers win over the San Antonio Spurs to remain undefeated at home.

Horford had a very prototypical game as he had 18 points, nine rebounds, and six assists and he knocked down some easy midrange jumpers. According to the veteran big man, that type of success can be attributed to the play of All-Star Ben Simmons who had himself a triple-double of 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists.

Horford stated:

It was good, I just felt like it all started with Ben for us. When he plays with that type of pace and that sense of urgency, it just opens everything up for all of us. I felt like his pressure and him putting pressure on the rim and attacking and looking ahead and making the right decisions, it got us in good positions early. I was able to get the ball in spots that I like and was able to go score.

The Sixers have always centered their focus on Simmons’ growth as a point guard more than anything else and Friday was another good example of that growth. He made plays on the defensive end, he made plays for his teammates, and that’s the most important thing right now. The Sixers need Simmons to continue his growth as an overall player. [lawrence-related id=19887,19878,19870]

Sixers coach Brett Brown praises Ben Simmons: ‘He doesn’t melt’

Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown praises Ben Simmons for his mental toughness following another win.

The Philadelphia 76ers received contributions from just about everybody on Friday night when they knocked off the San Antonio Spurs 115-104 to remain undefeated on their home floor. Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid, and Al Horford all had big games, but the All-Star point guard once again had a really solid night.

Ben Simmons poured in another triple-double of 10 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds and he made a lot of big defensive plays down the stretch. He also stepped up and made his free throws after the Spurs went with the infamous “Hack-a-Ben” strategy. It was another solid performance for Simmons following a good effort against the New York Knicks in the previous game.

Coach Brett Brown had a lot of praise for the team’s leader as he stated:

I see it in him, when he missed some free throws, it didn’t surprise me, like he was going to come back and make some. He doesn’t melt. Ben Simmons does not melt and I think that he, there’s an inner strength and confidence that I see at a young age that he bounces back.

Simmons ended up shooting 4-for-8 at the free-throw line after he missed three of his first four from the line. It showed off resilience and mental toughness to stay in it despite a tough start to the night from an area he’s got to improve in.

Brown added:

Whether it’s that or what I just said and many other instances that I can point to, I think that’s spirit, I think that’s his nature, that’s how he’s wired, and you have to be in this league if you want to attain the success that we and he hope to maintain and grow on.

Simmons’ next challenge is now taking on former teammate Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat on Saturday. [lawrence-related id=19870,19854,19845]

Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris lead balanced effort in win over Spurs

Led by Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons, the Sixers handled business against the Spurs Friday night.

The Philadelphia 76ers earned their third straight win with a 115-104 win over the San Antonio Spurs Friday night.

The Sixers established a seven-point advantage at the end of the first quarter and were able to hold off the Spurs the rest of the way. The lead remained at seven at both halftime and at the conclusion of the third quarter, and San Antonio got within a possession several times. But the Sixers never relented, taking control down the stretch and building the lead as high as 13 late in the fourth before taking the 11-point win.

It was a wonderfully balanced effort from the Sixers as all five starters reached double figures, as did James Ennis III off the bench. Tobias Harris was the star Friday night, while Ben Simmons did an excellent job making the Sixers go despite having a tough night shooting the ball.

Harris finished with a team-high 26 points, shooting 10-for-16 from the field and 3-5 from beyond the arc. He added six rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and a steal. He displayed a nice all-around offensive game, scoring from all three levels. It was the kind of performance the Sixers and their fans have been wanting to see from Harris.

As mentioned, Simmons struggled from the field, shooting just 3-for-10 and scoring 10 points. But he finished with a triple-double, adding 13 assist and 10 rebounds. His distribution was a big factor in the win.

Joel Embiid and Al Horford made an impact as well. Embiid finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block. He was 9-for-13 from the field. Horford had an excellent game as well with 18 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.

Despite struggling in a starting role on Wednesday, Furkan Korkmaz was again awarded the start in Josh Richardson’s absence and responded nicely with 17 points, four rebounds, and two steals. He shot 4-for-7 from deep.

It was a quiet night for the bench, but Ennis III had 13 points. Trey Burke struggled, shooting just 2-for-9, but he made a couple nice plays while contributing four points and two assists.

The Sixers were dominant on the glass, winning the rebounding battle 51-32 while pulling down 13 offensive rebounds. They had 32 assists on 46 made baskets (and moving to 5-0 when they have 30+ assists). The shooting was also good, with the Sixers connecting on 51.7% from the floor and 38.5% from deep.

All-in-all it was a solid performance and the Sixers took care of business in a game they were expected to win. They improved to 10-5 on the season and a perfect 6-0 at home. It will be a quick turnaround for the team, as it hosts old friend Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat Saturday night. That game is scheduled for a 7:30 PM tip.

Sixers using newfound stability to facilitate chemistry

With a truly stable roster for the first time in years, the new-look Sixers are looking to build championship-caliber chemistry.

The Philadelphia 76ers have gone through years of upheaval. From the losing and constant player movement of the process years to a roster that was revamped in-season last year as Elton Brand pushed the accelerator on the team’s push to contention, nothing has stayed the same for very long in the Sixers’ world.

Now, that has changed. The team has settled on the core roster construction it hopes will take it to the promised land, and every member of that core is under contract for the foreseeable future. And now, finally, the team has the opportunity to build the type of chemistry that can make the difference when teams find themselves in difficult circumstances like, for instance, tight playoff games/series.

ESPN’s Zach Lowe took a deep dive into the current state of the Sixers in which he shared some interesting tidbits regarding just how the team is going about building that chemistry.

Lowe notes the team celebration that occurred the night of Furkan Korkmaz’s game-winner against the Trail Blazers and how three nights later, in Utah, Ben Simmons joined Joel Embiid and some team staff to watch a Bulls-Lakers game in the hotel lounge. Simmons is noticing a difference. “The chemistry is much better. Guys are giving up their time to bond,” he told ESPN.

Lowe indicates that Al Horford and Tobias Harris have taken the lead in organizing team dinners, with Harris identifying the best steakhouse in each city they visit to please Embiid. Horford stresses the importance of such gatherings, and the team seems to be responding if you consider attendance a reliable indication.

Harris, meanwhile, has noticed a change in the reaction to losses, with the team taking on a much angrier mood in defeat. That, too, is a positive sign.

As the new-look Sixers try to find their way, a strong bond and getting to know each other off the court can only help that process along. On the court, there have been hiccups in this young season, and that will likely continue for a while longer. But news that the team is working to build camaraderie off the court, and finding success, is great news for the Sixers going forward and will only help to further serve the on-court goals.  [lawrence-related id=19822,19579]

 

Sixers focus on Ben Simmons’ growth as a point guard, not his shot

The Philadelphia 76ers want to continue to grow Ben Simmons as a point guard.

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The story surrounding the Philadelphia 76ers win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night was the fact that Ben Simmons finally made his first career 3-pointer. He also led a comeback from being down 17 points to win it 109-104 and keep the Sixers unbeaten at home.

He finished with 18 points, 13 assists, and seven rebounds and his intensity and leadership were what helped the Sixers rally and win the game. While his 3-point shot is definitely important and it can unlock other parts of his game, the thing most on coach Brett Brown’s mind is his growth as a point guard.

Brown said after it was all over:

If we are all honest, that is the first legitimate three that he has taken. He looked great. He’s 23 years old. He’s gone from a college four-man, to an NBA point guard, to an NBA All-Star and was rewarded with a significant contract. His progression has been pretty good, so this is a small step, but a step, towards the other pieces of his growth. What I liked most about him tonight, though, was his leadership with the ball. Talking, encouraging, getting Joel the ball. He’s growing as a point guard and that’s what I liked the most tonight.

Brown has a point. Simmons was a power forward in college and he has been converted to playing point guard at the NBA level. The position is hard enough to learn for a natural point guard let alone somebody who was playing in the frontcourt.

Simmons added:

I think it’s getting better with time with different experiences. I think I’m growing as a player and that’s what happens when you give somebody a little bit of a leeway and trust in them a little bit more.

It will be that continued growth that will decide the Sixers fate. This team has the potential to win an NBA title in 2019-20, but it will come down to whether Simmons continues to take that next step or not. Wednesday was a good step in the right direction. [lawrence-related id=19744,19745,19736]

Ben Simmons ‘looking forward’ to Olympics with Brett Brown

For now, it looks like Sixers star Ben Simmons will join his head coach in representing Australia in the Summer Olympics.

On Tuesday, news broke that Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown was named lead man of the Australian national team ahead of the 2020 Olympics. Perhaps not so coincidentally, Sixers star Ben Simmons is an Australian national, creating the chance for him to play under his NBA coach on the international level.

Following the news, we considered the fact that Simmons’ decision to participate in the Olympics or not may fuel speculation about his relationship with his head coach. Following Wednesday’s win over the New York Knicks, Simmons put much of that speculation to rest, at least for now. He told reporters that he was “excited” and “looking forward” to the opportunity. Simmons added that he and Brown “have a great relationship.”

Obviously, a lot can change between now and next summer, especially as the Sixers navigate a pressure-packed season in which they are shouldering lofty expectations. There also remains the possibility that Simmons could elect to forgo the summer games for reasons completely unrelated to his relationship with Brown, like health or rest considerations or a desire to focus his attention on his preparations for the NBA season, like he did last summer ahead of the FIBA World Cup.

At least for now, Simmons has emphatically put to rest any concerns over his relationship with Brown (not that there was any reason to believe it wasn’t good in the first place) and it appears there’s a good chance Simmons will suit up for Australia in Tokyo. [lawrence-related id=19548,19539]

Sixers’ Ben Simmons reacts to first career 3-pointer: ‘It feels good’

Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons reacts to his first career made 3-pointer.

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A large amount of criticism surrounding Philadelphia 76ers point guard Ben Simmons was his lack of shooting and his reluctance to shoot the ball. Despite all of the success he has produced in other areas in the game such as his defense, his growth as a point guard, and his rebounding it always goes back to the jump shot.

On Wednesday night, Simmons finally pulled one from deep and knocked it down with ease as he led the Sixers to a 109-104 win over the New York Knicks.

Everybody had seen the work he had put into his shot, they had seen the jumpers he takes in practices and in warmups before games, but he hadn’t attempted one in a game before Wednesday. Simmons was happy to finally get it off his back.

Simmons stated after the game:

“You saw my reaction,” he said with a laugh. “It feels good. You put work into something and it pays off.”

The raucous Philadelphia crowd erupted when the shot went down, but Simmons paid it no mind.

Honestly, when I’m on the floor, I don’t hear anything. I’m just trying to space the floor and do what I can to make this team better.

The Sixers will now need this type of production consistently and they will need this to be a sign of the times. They will need him to begin showing off more of a jump shot and attempting a few more shots per game. It would go a long way in helping the team take the next step. [lawrence-related id=19708,19698,19684]

Brett Brown, Joel Embiid praise Ben Simmons after Sixers win over Knicks

The Philadelphia 76ers have a lot of praise for Ben Simmons after a win over the New York Knicks.

The Philadelphia 76ers were searching for answers. They found themselves trailing the hapless New York Knicks by 17 at home in the third quarter and the boo birds were coming out. The team looked lifeless as they could not find any type of rhythm. Then, their All-Star leader at point guard woke up.

Ben Simmons led a big rally and helped the Sixers on both ends of the floor to end up knocking off the Knicks 109-104 to avoid what would have been a brutal loss. Simmons finished with 18 points, 13 assists, and seven rebounds and his play really sparked the Sixers to this win and coach Brett Brown knows it.

Brown stated afterward:

He was the bell ringer. I thought Ben’s intensity, defensive intensity was as good as it’s been. I think that him in his leadership, sort of controlling the game, and giving him the freesom to make play calls after free throws as an example and him doing a great job of being smart and what that looked like. I thought that he was outstanding with his presence. I really thought he helped change the whole landscape. Especially in the second half.

Joel Embiid, who led the Sixers with 23 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists, has been a teammate with Simmons throughout their careers and he was happy with what he saw from his fellow All-Star teammate.

Embiid said:

His energy changed. Defensively, I think he caused one offensive foul and one turnover and from there, we just ran. James(Ennis) made like two threes and then Mike(Scott) came off the bench and knocked down some shots. We just kept running.That’s the whole thing, we’ve got to get stops and running and esepecially if teams are going to guard me the way they’ve been guarding me all season, doubling me the way they’ve been doubling me. I’ve just got to make the right play and just go from there.

The Sixers will continue this 3-game homestand on Friday when they welcome in the San Antonio Spurs. [lawrence-related id=19690,19684,19676]

Ben Simmons leads Sixers past Knicks 109-104

The Sixers were able to pull out a win over the Knicks during an eventful night at Wells Fargo Center.

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Wednesday night’s game between the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks was eventful, to say the least.

Ben Simmons provided a jolt of energy in the first quarter when he knocked down his first career 3-pointer. A disastrous third quarter almost doomed the Sixers, who saw a two-point lead turn into a 17-point deficit. And ultimately, the team was able to overcome that margin and earn a 109-104 win.

The first half was punctuated by the Simmons 3, but despite the electricity created from the moment, the Sixers weren’t able to distance themselves from the Knicks, taking just a two-point lead into the break.

Then the aforementioned third quarter happened. New York opened the half with a 15-0 run, establishing a 13-point advantage that would get as high as 17 with 4:15 left in the quarter. But the Sixers responded, going on a 14-2 spurt of their own to close the quarter, pulling within five.

The Sixers pulled even at 82 with 9:26 left in the game on a Joel Embiid dunk before a free throw from the big man put them ahead half a minute later. A Mike Scott 3 put the Sixers up for good with just under five minutes to go as they were able to keep the Knicks at arm’s length down the stretch.

Ben Simmons was fantastic, and not just because of the made 3. He finished with 18 points, 13 assists, and seven rebounds while committing just a single turnover. Just as importantly, it was Simmons who set the tone defensively to spark the comeback.

Before we get to the rest of the starters, we need to talk about the bench because they too played a huge role in the team’s turnaround. Mike Scott, James Ennis III, and Trey Burke all made a positive impact for the Sixers. Scott hit four incredibly important 3’s on the way to 12 points, adding four rebounds and a block. Burke and Ennis brought excellent energy and made some key plays as well. Burke finished with nine points, two assists, and a rebound while Ennis contributed 11 points, four rebounds, two assists, and a block. It’s fair to wonder if the Sixers are able to complete this comeback without the contributions from that trio.

Going back to the starters, Joel Embiid led all scorers with 23 points, adding 12 rebounds, five assists, and two blocks.

Tobias Harris chipped in 14 points, four rebounds, and four assists.

Al Horford struggled, shooting just 3-11 for seven points. He also had six rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block.

Furkan Korkmaz started in place of the injured Josh Richardson and struggled mightily, scoring two points and dishing one assist while missing all four of his 3-point attempts.

Matisse Thyblle chipped in seven points, two rebounds, two steals, and an assist while Shake Milton had six points and four rebounds.

The start of the third quarter was concerning, and the Sixers perimeter defense left something to be desired as the Knicks shot 52% from beyond the arc. However, it was great to see the Sixers respond and get the win. Adding to the positive, the Sixers committed just 10 turnovers and assisted on 30 of 39 made baskets.

Again, the Sixers will need to limit the kind of lapses we saw in the third quarter, but hopefully, the turnaround showed them the kind of energy they need to bring consistently and what they can be when they do so.

At the end of the day, a win is a win and the Sixers will certainly take this one. They are now 9-5 on the season and a perfect 5-0 at home. They’ll put that record on the line Friday when they host the San Antonio Spurs.