06-19-2021, 02:18 AM
(06-19-2021, 02:09 AM)Branduil Wrote: You can NOT hide a player who can't shoot free throws. Simmons literally runs away from the ball because he knows he'll get fouled and forced to shoot FTs. He would be worse than useless next to Luka.
I don't see how FT's would be an issue unless it's a close game in the 4th and they're playing hack-a-simmons. Which by the way would be an incredibly risky strategy to employ against a team that has Luka Doncic. By conceding the bonus so early you're asking to get torched by Luka, but anyways back to the main point.
Giannis is a perfect example of a superstar with subpar FT shooting that can still play just because of his talent. Simmons isn't nearly the same talent level as Giannis offensively, but he'd be playing almost exactly the same role and has an uncannily similar skillset to the Greek Freak. Except the main difference would be iso-scoring but he makes up for that in playmaking.
Again, Draymond Green is another subpar free throw shooter. Heck he's one of the worst scorers I've ever seen. Has that ever stopped him from being played?
In PHI, Simmons is almost set up to be the fall guy on purpose. His fit with Embiid was always suspect. They operate in the same area of the floor in the half court and they both like to play at totally different paces. I think you're vastly underrating the damage Simmons, a hyper athletic Center/Forward/Guard, could do next to a transcendent player like Luka.
14x All-Star, 12x all-NBA, 1x MVP, 1x Finals MVP, 1 NBA Championship: Dirk Nowitzki, the man, the myth, the legend.