Ben Simmons’s three-phobia has
long been a point of derision, with
the 2016 No. 1 pick either unable or
unwilling to stretch his game (0 for
17 from deep in his career). But it’s
not just a three-point touch he’s lacking. Simmons
made just THREE SHOTS OUTSIDE OF 14 FEET
last season in 28 attempts. He wasn’t much better
inside that mark, connecting on 18 of 71 attempts
from 10 to 14 feet, the worst percentage (25.4) of
the 84 players with at least 70 shots.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a useful comparison
for Simmons. Both are physical marvels, often able
to impose their will near the rim. Antetokounmpo’s
rise from All-Star to MVP can be largely attributed
to his improvement as a shooter. Simmons needs
to be more willing to pull the trigger—but he also
needs to be able. The Sixers lost JJ Redick, who
made more than a quarter of the team’s threes,
leaving their oversized offense dangerously short
on perimeter threats. —Michael Shapiro*NEW ACQUISITION3
TELLING NUMBER
∂56 wins ∂Lose conference finals ∂Ben Simmons will make a three. Or two.StartersMIKE
SCOTT
5.8 PPG; 3.5 RPG;
40.0 FG%; 40.1 3FG%BEN
SIMMONS
16.9 PPG; 8.8 RPG;
7.7 APG; 56.3 FG%PG
JOSH
RICHARDSON*
16.6 PPG; 4.1 APG;
41.2 FG%; 35.7 3FG%SG
AL
HORFORD*
13.6 PPG; 6.7 RPG;
1.3 BPG; 53.5 FG%PF PF
JOEL
EMBIID
27.5 PPG; 13.6 RPG;
1.9 BPG; 48.4 FG%CThey have the pieces
to win it all. They might
lead the league in
defense. You won’t find
better size, length and
athleticism in a starting
five.... They have gone
all in on BEN SIMMONS and
JOEL EMBIID. Some games
it looks like the perfectpairing; some games it
looks awful. The things
Ben does, he does
at an elite level—his
passing, the tempo he
plays with. But he has
to trust his shot more.
You can point to the
fundamentals: His feet
are turned different
ways, his elbow is not
in the right spot. What
I see is a total lack of
confidence.... Embiidis an unstoppable force.
With his skills and
back-to-the-basket
game, if he is not the
best center in the
league, he’s 1A. You play
him to settle for the
three but he’s making
it now.... They lose
some moxie without
Jimmy Butler. They’ll
look to AL HORFORD for
that now. He’s someone
Boston went to whenthey needed a bucket.
His shot selection
is excellent. It’s his
biggest strength....
JOSH RICHARDSON is going
to get a lot of open
shots. If he hits 37,
38% from three, they
will be thrilled. He’s
not the playmaker you
would want, but he will
be a good fit with the
starting five because
he doesn’t need theball as much.... I like
TOBIAS HARRIS more at
the four than the three
because he gets more
mismatches.... I think
they’ll start Horford
then sub him out
quickly. Alternate him
with Embiid for most of
the game. They can play
high-low with him and
Embiid. Defensively,
they can stay big down
the stretch.Projected Lineup
JAMES
ENNIS III
6.7 PPG; 3.1 RPG;
46.9 FG%; 35.3 3FG%SFBench
SF
TOBIAS
HARRIS
20.0 PPG; 7. 9 RPG;
48.7 FG%; 39.7 3FG%ENEMY LINES
A rival scout weighs in72 Crystal Ball:
ERICK W. RASCO (SIMMONS)THE
EAST
76ers
PHILADELPHIA
2018 – 19 RECORD 51– 31 2nd in Atlantic
COACH BRETT BROWN 7th season with 76ers