There was a click in Ben Simmons, and we can fix it on November 13th. Before that date, the Nets guard was averaging 5.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists, and he had never reached the 10-point mark. All at 44.4% on shots.
Since then, it’s been day and night since he now averages 14.6 points, 7 rebounds and 6.4 assists. All at 77% on shots! Proof that he is better, his +/- has gone from -5 to… +35!
“It’s health. He finally found his legs. He was absent for two years. You didn’t even give it a chance! You criticized him after every damn game” gets carried away Markieff Morris. “But the guy hadn’t played for two years. Obviously, you don’t know anything about it because none of you have played in the NBA. He had to find his physique. There are contacts every evening. Playing 30 minutes and more every night takes time. »
You had to be strong in your head to take the criticism but also agree to play at 20% of your potential, knowing the comments it would generate. “Obviously, I heard some things, but I know who I am, and I forced myself to come back to the level necessary to help the team win. »
“You can see that he is having a lot of fun on the pitch, especially in defence”
Is it a matter of physique or confidence? The answer with Kyrie Irving.
“He just plays with a lot more confidence, and it starts with self-confidence” believes the All-Star point guard. “He had to believe in himself. I’m proud of him. I just want him to continue to be more consistent in his approach. You can see that he is having a lot of fun on the pitch, especially in defence. It makes a big difference for us. »
What does Ben Simmons think? “It’s true that I feel this confidence. I know who I am, and I know what I can do. I know what the team needs, and I continue to work on my physique and on the pitch. »
The good news is that he has just taken a back-to-back in which he has accumulated 65 minutes. He is getting closer and closer to his best level. “Until now, I had never felt so good. Besides, it was also a back-to-back. I think my playing time should be less, but I tried to insist.
While his coach wanted to take him out, it was Ben Simmons who asked to stay on the pitch because he felt good.
| Ben Simmons | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2017-18 | PHL | 81 | 34 | 54.5 | 0.0 | 56.0 | 1.8 | 6.4 | 8.1 | 8.2 | 2.6 | 1.7 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 15.8 |
| 2018-19 | PHL | 79 | 34 | 56.3 | 0.0 | 60.0 | 2.2 | 6.7 | 8.8 | 7.7 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 16.9 |
| 2019-20 | PHL | 57 | 35 | 58.0 | 28.6 | 62.1 | 2.0 | 5.8 | 7.8 | 8.0 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 3.5 | 0.6 | 16.4 |
| 2020-21 | PHL | 58 | 32 | 55.7 | 30.0 | 61.3 | 1.6 | 5.6 | 7.2 | 6.9 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 14.3 |
| 2022-23 | BRK | 14 | 28 | 60.9 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 1.0 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 6.1 | 3.9 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 8.6 |
| Total | 287 | 34 | 56.0 | 14.3 | 59.6 | 1.9 | 6.2 | 8.0 | 7.7 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 15.6 | |
