‘His winning formula is incredible’

As Friday night’s game between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers wore on, Ben Simmons was nowhere to be found. In the three quarters, Simmons had eight assists but just four points on just three shots, and he appeared on track for a fifth straight game with single-digit shot attempts continuing what was a debut. of quiet season.

But then, as Boston reduced Philadelphia’s lead to four midway through the fourth quarter and threatened to steal the second half of that two-game streak between those rivals, Simmons burst onto the scene.

He fought on the offensive glass to score his own failure. He stormed the way for a bucket and-1. He picked a pass down the court, one he mistook the other way for a dunk – and that was immediately followed by a timeout from Celtics coach Brad Stevens.

In the span of 36 seconds, the game went from a toss to one that would clearly end in a Sixers victory. That streak, the key segment of Philadelphia’s 122-110 win, was a reminder of just how much of an impact Simmons can make – and that those types of moments haven’t come so often to start this season.

“It’s been good,” Simmons said after finishing with 15 points – 11 in the fourth quarter – and 11 assists, when asked how he felt about this season and if he had heard the reviews of its debut. “It’s a new season. I’m just focusing on winning and doing what I can to win with this team. I think it was good.

“I don’t go on Instagram, I don’t go on Twitter, so I can’t really answer questions in terms of what people are saying, because I don’t care, honestly. But unless [head coach] Doc [Rivers] say something, or [assistant coach] sat [Cassell], or people come to me, that’s another story.

“But I try to win games, and that’s why we’re all here, to win.”

It has been a strange start to the season for the Sixers. They have the best record in the Eastern Conference, at 11-5, but feasted on a loose schedule early before the last two weeks were consumed by the Sixers initially having several players missing due to health protocols. and NBA security, followed by them playing four. games against the Miami Heat and Celtics teams that were exhausted for the same reason.

Joel Embiid was arguably the NBA’s MVP in the first month of the season, and he continued his 42-point performance on Wednesday with a 38-point explosion on Friday night, punctuated by his take on Marcus Smart. Celtics for being frustrated by his draw in Wednesday night’s game.

“I knew coming into the game, after they complained, I knew the refereeing was going to be, you know, a little tight for us, and I guess better for them,” Embiid said afterwards. getting 15 free throws on Friday night, compared to 21 in Wednesday’s win.

Tobias Harris, meanwhile, again looked like the player he was when he played for Rivers with the LA Clippers – the one the Sixers paid a hefty price to trade two years ago, then paid $ 180million. dollars over five years to keep him as a free agent. Harris shot 10 for 12 and scored 23 points on Friday, after scoring 22 points on Wednesday. And the Sixers’ moves to better balance the roster, trading Al Horford and Josh Richardson for Danny Green and Seth Curry respectively, have worked as well as they could have hoped.

But for this team to be the championship contender they aspire to be, the Sixers need the version of Simmons who took over for that 36-second streak in the fourth quarter – a version those watching the Sixers have been waiting for. to see more emerge. often than she did.

Much has been said about Simmons’ shooting – or lack thereof – from 3-point range. But what emerges from the games he made in the fourth quarter is his aggressiveness. In nine of his 14 games this season, Simmons hasn’t taken 10 shots, and his points per game, shots per game, field goal percentage and utilization rate have all dropped this season.

Still, he said he was pretty happy with his role.

“Yeah, [I am]”He said.” It’s unique and different. There aren’t too many guys who can do what I do. I get to the rim, I score, I bounce and I facilitate, and then I get defensive saves. There aren’t too many NBA players doing this. It’s rare.

“So I’m going to continue to develop my game and improve for my team. But at the end of the day I just want to win. And whatever way I have to do it, be it 10 steals and no points. , no rebound and 50 assists, whatever it is, I’ll do it. “

No one would say Simmons’ skills are scarce. He weighs 6ft 11in and 240lbs, but is often the fastest player and the best passer on the pitch – not to mention being able to keep virtually anyone, as he did on Friday when switching between the small and sly Kemba. Walker and Jaylen Brown, one of the most athletic wing players in the league.

But it’s precisely because he has so many skills at his disposal that draws so much attention to his game when he doesn’t make the kind of impact he made in the fourth quarter on Friday night. Simmons ‘quiet nights offensively this season have been noticed by opposing Boy Scouts and unfolded enough that it’s been a regular talking point that Rivers has had to bring up on several occasions this season – especially because Simmons’ potential is the centerpiece of a trade James Harden weighed on the franchise.

“He didn’t do it until the end of the game tonight, but he was already playing really well,” said Rivers. “And that’s the point I’m trying to make to everyone. He does so much for this team. His winning formula is amazing in all things. Last night he got no credit.

“He was so important to why we won this game with everything he does, the little cuts, the little back picks, the throws and the assists. Ben is doing a lot, and so he can’t stand. just focus on one thing. him just to score, he’s too good for that for me. It would be a waste if that’s all we’re focusing on for him. “

However, for the Sixers to come out of the Eastern Conference, they’ll need it. The Celtics failed in both games this week, but were competitive with Jayson Tatum seated due to health and safety protocols, and with Kemba Walker still playing on a minute limit. The Milwaukee Bucks still have two-time reigning league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo along with All-Stars Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday. The Miami Heat have almost their entire team returning from the group that won the East last year.

Oh, and then there’s this Interstate 95 team in Brooklyn who traded for Harden last week, and who already had Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on their hands.

Still, there’s plenty of time to freeze for these Sixers, and there’s reason to be optimistic. Embiid and Simmons both spoke on Friday about their growing relationship on the pitch. The fact that Harden was traded, and the potential for him to come to Philadelphia is gone, removes another distraction. And now that they’ve finally got their full lineup back, after recovering Curry on Friday night, Embiid spoke after the game about the Sixers’ desire for a winning streak.

The odds of that happening, however, will only increase if Simmons can string together a series of games full of stretches like that 36-second duration that cemented the outcome of Friday’s game.

“I love to play with him,” Embiid said. “This fourth quarter starts on the defensive end, and he was a monster. He got a lot of steals and then in the half court off the pick and roll, he was attacking, he was aggressive and he made plays, he scored a couple baskets.

“He was huge tonight. He was huge tonight.”