‘His winning formula is incredible’

As the Friday night game between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers progressed, Ben Simmons was nowhere to be seen. Over the course of three quarters, Simmons had eight assists, but only four points from just three shots, and he looked well on his way to a fifth straight game with single digit attempts in a continuation of what has been a smooth start to this season.

But then, while Boston reduced Philadelphia’s lead to four in the middle of the fourth period, and potentially threatened to steal the second half of this two-game series between these rivals, Simmons stepped in.

He fought in the offensive glass to mark his own fault. He broke into the track in search of an e-1 bucket. He landed a pass on the open court, a pass that gave on the other side for a dunk – and that was immediately followed by a timeout from Celtics coach Brad Stevens.

Within 36 seconds, the game went from a difficult situation to one that would clearly end with a victory for the Sixers. This stretch, the key segment in Philadelphia’s 122-110 victory, was a reminder of how impactful Simmons can be – and that those kinds of moments don’t show up so often to start this season.

“It’s been good,” said Simmons after finishing with 15 points – 11 in the fourth period – and 11 assists, when asked how he felt this season and heard criticism about his start. “It is a new season. I am just focusing on winning and doing what I can to win with this team. I think it has been good.

“I’m not going to Instagram, I’m not going to Twitter, so I really can’t answer the questions in terms of what people are saying, because I don’t give a fuck, honestly. But unless [head coach] Doc [Rivers] is saying something, or [assistant coach] Sam [Cassell], or people are coming for me, it’s a different story.

“But I am trying to win games, and that is why we are all here, to win.”

It was a strange start to the season for the Sixers. They have the best record of the Eastern Conference, at 11-5, but they celebrated on a smooth schedule before the last two weeks were consumed by the Sixers, with several players absent due to NBA health and safety protocols, followed by them playing four games against Miami Heat and Celtics teams that were sold out for the same reason.

Joel Embiid was undoubtedly the NBA MVP during the first month of the season, and he followed his 42 point performance on Wednesday with a 38 point explosion on Friday night, one punctuated by his new attempt by Marcus Smart of the Celtics for being frustrated by their draw at Wednesday night’s game.

“I knew that going into the game, after they complained, I knew that arbitration would be, you know, a little difficult for us, and I think it would be better for them,” said Embiid after receiving 15 free throws on Friday night. , compared to 21 in Wednesday’s victory.

Tobias Harris, in turn, resembled the player he was playing at Rivers with LA Clippers – the one the Sixers paid a high price to trade for two years ago, and then paid $ 180 million in five years to keep you as a free agent. Harris hit 10 out of 12 and scored 23 points on Friday after scoring 22 points on Wednesday. And the Sixers’ moves to better balance the squad, swapping Al Horford and Josh Richardson for Danny Green and Seth Curry, respectively, worked as well as they could hope for.

But for this team to be the candidate for the championship it aspires to be, the Sixers need the version of Simmons that took control for 36 seconds in the fourth quarter – a version that those who watch Sixers are waiting to see it appear more often than it has. .

Much has been said about Simmons’ shot – or lack thereof – of a 3-point streak. But what stood out in the plays he made in the fourth period was the aggressiveness. In nine of his 14 games this season, Simmons did not make 10 shots, and his points per game, shots per game, percentage of field goals and usage rate have dropped this season.

Still, he said he is very happy with his role.

“Yes, [I am]”, he said.” It is unique and different. There are not many guys capable of doing what I do. I’m reaching the ring, scoring, hitting and facilitating, then defensively I stop. Not many players in the NBA do that. This is rare.

“So, I will continue to develop my game and improve for my team. But in the end, I just want to win. And yet, I need to do that, whether to get 10 steals and no points, no rebounds and 50 assists, whatever, I will do it. “

No one would say that Simmons’ skill set is rare. He’s listed at 6 feet-11 and 240 pounds, but he is often the fastest and best passer on the court – not to mention being able to defend just about anyone, as he did on Friday when switching between small and crafty Kemba Walker and Jaylen Brown, one of the most athletic players in the league.

But it is precisely because he has so many skills at his disposal that he causes so much attention to be called to his game when he does not cause the kind of impact he made in the fourth period of Friday night. Simmons ‘quiet nights offensively this season have been noticed by opposing scouts, and have happened enough to be a regular topic of discussion that Rivers has had to address on several occasions this season – particularly as Simmons’ potential being the centerpiece of an exchange. James Harden hovered over the franchise.

“He didn’t do that until the end of the game tonight, but he was already playing very well,” said Rivers. “And that is the point that I am trying to show everyone. He is doing so many things for this team. His winning formula is incredible in all things. Last night, he had no credit.

“He was so important to know why we won that game with all the things he’s doing, the small cuts, the small choices back, the plays and passes. Ben does a lot, so he can’t focus on one thing. for just scoring, he’s too good for that for me. It would be a waste if that was all we focused on for him. “

For the Sixers to leave the Eastern Conference, however, they will need it. The Celtics fell short in both games this week, but were competitive with Jayson Tatum out because of health and safety protocols, and with Kemba Walker still playing within the minute limit. The Milwaukee Bucks still have Giannis Antetokounmpo, the league’s two-time MVP, along with All-Stars Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday. The Miami Heat has almost all of its team back from the group that won the East last year.

Oh, and then there’s that team on Interstate 95 in Brooklyn that you traded for Harden last week and already had Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving at your disposal.

Still, there is a lot of time to win these Sixers and there is reason for optimism. Embiid and Simmons spoke on Friday about their growing relationship in court. The fact that Harden was negotiated and the possibility that he might come to Philadelphia have disappeared removes another distraction. And now that they finally have their full complement of players again, after bringing Curry back Friday night, Embiid spoke after the game about the Sixers’ desire for a winning streak.

The chances of that happening, however, will only increase if Simmons can chain a series of games full of stretches like that 36-second break that cemented the result of Friday’s game.

“I love playing with him,” said Embiid. “That fourth bedroom starts at the defensive end, and he was a monster. He stole a lot of blows, and then in the half block of the pick and roll he was attacking, he was aggressive and making plays, he scored some baskets.

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