Ben Simmons enjoys Sixers having more ball-handlers, playing off ball
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The Philadelphia 76ers have a much more balanced offense with the additions of Seth Curry and Tyrese Maxey as well as the continued growth of Shake Milton.
The additions also have given Ben Simmons an opportunity to play off the ball a lot more and use his high IQ in different ways. In the past, the team had to rely on him to run the offense and get guys involved.
“I’m able to be everywhere,” Simmons said. “I can contribute all over the floor. Whether I’m on the ball or off the ball. I feel like my IQ is pretty high when it comes to playing the game and just making plays and decision making.”
That has also given coach Doc Rivers more options to turn to when it comes to initiating offense. He does not need to just give the ball to Simmons and let him go to work, he can also hand the ball to Maxey or anyone else and feel confident in their abilities.
“Ben, obviously, is our primary,” Rivers said. “Then you’ve got Seth in pick-and-rolls, you got Shake in pick-and-rolls, you have Tyrese in pick-and-rolls, you have Danny (Green) spotting up, you got Tobias (Harris) in pick-and-rolls, so we have a lot of guys who can put the ball on the floor.”
Curry is out due to health and safety protocols after he tested positive for the coronavirus on Jan. 7, but when he is on the floor, he makes a difference.
“Just getting my opportunity here to make plays with the ball in my hands,” Curry said on Jan. 6. “I just think the entire team is doing a better job of moving the ball, passing the ball, and not being one dimensional.”
Being able to have so many options to turn to on offense gives Simmons more freedom to play off the ball and then cut and get easy dunks. Then, there are transition opportunities with Milton, Maxey and others for him to get easy points.
“I enjoy it,” Simmons added. “I enjoy being in different positions on the floor with the ball, without the ball. As long as we’re winning.”
The Sixers will head out on the road for two games to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.
