Ben Simmons' Lack of Development Is Hard to Process: Unchecked

Ben Simmons still not being a threat to score at this point in his career is disappointing.

We know what Ben Simmons is capable of on D, but for him, that letter can also stand for another word: disappointment. Because at this point his lack of development is hard to process.

The 76ers are the only team to blow an 18-point lead in back-to-back playoff games in the last 25 seasons. They had a win probability of 95.5% at one point in Game 4, and it reached 99.7% late in the 3rd quarter of Game 5. pic.twitter.com/3zg1q5qnlH

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 17, 2021

I say this not simply as a result of him attempting just four shots in the midst of the Sixers historic collapse against the Hawks, or given he missed 10 free throws in a game his team lost by three, but more so due to the fact that I believed in his ability to be a superstar.

don't wanna pile on simmons, but the potential of the sixers hinged on the idea of having two superstars. it's undeniable that they have a superstar and ben simmons.

— bomani (@bomani_jones) June 17, 2021

Simmons or Joel Embiid was a legit conversation for a while and I was on team Simmons for a minute there. Against Atlanta, Embiid and Simmons became Embiid and Curry, and we’re talking Seth, not Steph. That doesn’t say much for what Tobias Harris contributed either, but Simmons was always supposed to be the other building block.

I can’t really believe what I’m seeing: Joel Embiid and Seth Curry were the only Sixers to make a basket in the second half. pic.twitter.com/2c5yijUn5r

— Mr. Statistician Face Man (@tomhaberstroh) June 17, 2021

In a league where shot creation is the most important commodity, in my opinion, followed by shooting, he is far too often a self-check. Simmons can certainly make plays for others, however, when it comes to creating for himself, he isn’t much of a threat.

Ben Simmons’ lack of perimeter shooting isn’t the issue. It’s that he’s 6-foot-11, 240 pounds but doesn’t have a reliable post/face-up game, creativity as a finisher, shooting touch beyond 2 feet + consistently lets opponents get away w/hiding undersized guards and wings on him.

— Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) June 17, 2021

Especially from the perimeter, where his jumper is the opposite of wet. Which is even more glaring when Embiid is still a force out there despite a knee injury, while Simmons can’t be trusted on the floor in crunch time.

Worst FT% by a player in a single playoff run (min 50 attempts):

27.3 — Ben Wallace in 2006
32.8 — Ben Simmons this playoffs
37.3 — DeAndre Jordan in 2016 pic.twitter.com/PLyx2QwG3s

— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 17, 2021

That’s not just a result of his woes at the free throw line either, as Simmons has taken zero shots and has only one assist in the last two fourth quarters.

Zero total shots and one assist (offensive rebound and pass to Korkmaz for 3 in G4 I believe) in 17 fourth-quarter minutes the last two games for Ben Simmons. pic.twitter.com/MtAdYd3QGC

— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) June 17, 2021

The bright side for Philly is the Sixers season isn’t over and Simmons can still show why despite his scoring struggles he is a net positive on the court. 

Ben Simmons is like Aquaman. Does he do great stuff? Have unique and powerful skills? Yes! But everyone knows you you gotta drag that man out of the water.

— jason concepcion (@netw3rk) June 17, 2021

But given where he is in his career, for all the good he does, Ben Simmons should be better.