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Recap: Ben Simmons’ Sixth Summer League Game against the Heat

Adrian Fedkiw|

Restgate had much to do about nothing, even if Isiah Thomas wanted to overdramatize it.

Ben Simmons, however, was back in action for the Philadelphia 76ers’ Summer League finale. He had 15 points, 10 rebounds and six assists as the Sixers defeated the Miami Heat 74-66 on Friday night.

Simmons, who sat out the last two games, was just 5-of-15 from the floor and turned the ball over six times, but did look for his shot more in the second half and closed the game out when the Heat made a late charge to cut a double-digit deficit to four down the stretch.

Let’s take a look at some of Simmons’ highlights.

Here’s Simmons at his best, snatching the defensive rebound and heading the other way. Shawn Long came over to set a screen and rolled to the basket. The second Simmons sees Michael Carrera come off Long to help double team, the Aussie flipped a perfect behind-the-back bounce pass to Long for the easy basket.

Simmons again clearing the defensive glass and galloping the other way before dropping it back off to Long, who is capable of hitting that shot and should’ve taken it.

Simmons’ height allows him to pass over the defense and we see that here in the left wing feed to an open Timothe Luwau-Caborrot at the top of the arc, but the Frenchman misses the 3.

We haven’t seen Simmons in the post a lot in the Summer League, this was one of the few instances with a much smaller Nic Moore on him and Simmons draws the foul.

The Heat switched on a screen, which left Moore on Simmons, who backed him down before finding Richaun Holmes with a pretty bounce pass for the layup plus a foul.

Simmons worked from the left elbow this time, beating Carrera with a quick shoulder shake prior to the kick out to Luwawu-Caborrot, who was unable to knock down the right corner triple.

Yet another Simmons grab and go, but this time he pulls up for the jumper instead of looking to pass. It didn’t go down, but he was balanced and in rhythm from the foul line.

Look at the touch, placement and perfect trajectory on the right wing pass from Simmons to Holmes for the easy basket.

Simmons looked for his shot more in the 2nd half, starting with this right elbow jumper

When Simmons is under control, balanced and in rhythm, this is what happens.

When Simmons isn’t under control, balanced and in rhythm, this is what happens. The step-back jumper is not in his arsenal yet.

Here’s what knocking down the top of the key jumper did, this was on the following possession. Simmons was able to get Carrera leaning to his left and beat him off the dribble with a quick first step along the left wing. Holmes wasn’t able to handle the feed, however.

Simmons finds Long with a nice overhead interior pass for the easy layup. It may not seem like a big deal watching it, but Simmons has great touch on his interior passes, which makes it easy for bigs to handle.

We saw more aggressiveness in the closing stages of this one from Simmons. Miami cut a double-digit deficit to four and with less than three minutes left, Simmons took matters into his own hands with a left wing drive, jump stop and right-handed finish.

And here’s Simmons with another take to the tin.

Long finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Holmes provided 14 points and six boards for the Sixers, who concluded the Las Vegas Summer League at 2-4.

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