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No jump-shot? No problem: Why Ben Simmons is unlike anything we’ve ever seen.

Ben Simmons makes up for his lack of a jump-shot by using the space defenders give him as a weapon.

As much as basketball changes, the premise stays the same. Get the ball in that hoop thing and stop the opposition doing the same. A proposition which, as we are all aware, is a lot easier said than done; Especially if you’re guarding Ben Simmons.

A few ticks and moves that have stood the test of time in the NBA. On the defensive end, the key is knowing your opponent and forcing inefficient shots. The difference between a win and a loss in basketball, especially at the highest level, is usually minuscule. A defence forcing an opponent into a shot they’re not comfortable with can be the difference in a match’s outcome. One sure fire defensive strategy you see in basketball from the NBA, all the way down to whoever guards me in a game of pickup, is to sag off someone who can’t shoot. Force them into taking a jump-shot.

When Ben Simmons entered the league, everyone thought this would be his main problem. Simmons, who’s shooting criticisms are well known (and fair), would gather no respect from long-range. The miraculous passer and elite athlete would struggle to make an impact until he ‘fixes his jumper’. However, there is one thing that the NBA and everyone who covers it forgot:

Ben Simmons is an absolute beast

 

Ben Simmons is too big, too quick and too skilful

 

Any defensive instinct when guarding a non-shooter is to sag off him in isolation and help defend the rest of the team. Tempt him into taking a jump-shot which he probably won’t make. To be fair, it is a pretty bloody good strategy and punishes most players who lack a jump-shot. However, Ben Simmons is not in the ‘most’ category.

Simmons is too quick and too big to leave space. He covers ground far too quickly to be left open. Even Draymond Green, the NBA’s best defender cannot recover in time after going under on a Joel Embiid screen.

Ben Simmons uses the few metres space given to him to charge toward the basket. Considering he can finish with both hands and is hitting around 70% of his shots at the rim so far, I believe it is mission failed in forcing an inefficient shot.

 

 

Simmons wins the possession with a charge to the basket on this occasions. However, with his passing range, opening up passing angles by giving him space is deadly. Simmons is fifth in the entire NBA in assists this season and has not met a pass he doesn’t like.

Ben Simmons uses the space you give him as a weapon, making defences reconsider how to guard a 7-foot non-shooter.

Sometimes you just can’t win

 

If sag off of him, Simmons will still make you pay. NBA veterans, Omri Casspi and David West, found out the hard way, as both were embarrassed by Simmons earlier today. Both veterans tried different defensive techniques on Simmo (I’m dying on the ‘Simmo’ as a nickname hill), and both failed.

Casspi tried to push up on Simmons and force him to create his space, where David West just wanted to stop him getting the ball in the first plate – both failed.

 

 

For a defender, denying Simmons the ball is near-impossible at the best of times. The big man is usually the one bringing the ball up the court, however, on the rare occasions he plays off-ball, Simmons uses his ability to cut to the basket to punish defenders who turn their heads for a split-second.

 

 

He said it best

 

We all look forward to Simmons’ game once he develops his jump-shot. However, it is not stopping him from being a star in the best league in the world. All this means one thing for Simmo and Kevin Durant said it best after the Warriors’ comeback win.

 

 

 

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