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Recap: Ben Simmons’ Third Summer League Game against Brandon Ingram and the Lakers

Adrian Fedkiw|

Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram will forever be connected and Round 1 might’ve went to Ingram in the record column, but not in the stat sheet.

D’Angelo Russell’s 3-pointer at the buzzer lifted the Los Angeles Lakers over the Philadelphia 76ers 70-69 in a highly anticipated Summer League showdown between the NBA’s top two draft picks last month in front of a raucous and predominantly LA crowd in Las Vegas.

Simmons had eight points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, but did turn the ball over eight times. He was 3-of-8 from the floor and is just 7-of-25 from the field overall in his first three Summer League games as he continues to show a reluctance to shoot the basketball. Nonetheless, he’s still impacting the game with his ability to see plays before they happen and snatch a defensive rebound and head the other way. We’re seeing the flashes, but there’s some kinks that need to be worked out, which Sixers head coach Brett Brown addressed during the game.

Ingram was quiet, netting just seven points on 3-of-12 shooting and didn’t record his first field goal until there was 5:50 left in the contest.

Russell, who most likely would’ve landed with the Sixers in last year’s NBA Draft had the Lakers not taken him No. 2 overall, finished with 22 points and five assists. Philly selected Jahlil Okafor at No. 3 instead.

Neither team played well in the first half. Los Angeles turned the ball over 13 times and posted just seven field goals, while Philly missed its last 10 shots en route to a 30-25 advantage heading into the locker room. The play picked up over the final 20 minutes.

T.J. McConnell put the Sixers ahead with 1.8 ticks remaining with a driving layup down the lane.

 

 

Then Russell hit nothing but net from the right wing on the ensuing inbounds to win it.

 

 

And let’s get to some Simmons highlights.

This is Simmons’ specialty, grabbing the defensive rebound and galloping the other way. In this instance he stopped at the left wing and lobbed it for Richaun Holmes, who easily put in the layup.

 

 

The ambidextrous Simmons showcased the ability to finish with the right hand. He drove down the lane from the top of the arc, hung in the air and went to the off-hand to complete the layup.

 

 

With Zubac switching on the pick-and-roll, Simmons used his quickness to drive into the paint from the right wing. After stopping his dribble, he craftily used the pump fake, sound footwork and a soft touch with the off-hand to flip the shot into the basket. This was beautiful.

 

 

Simmons threads the needle from the left wing to a cutting McConnell along the left baseline with a perfect bounce pass. Wow!

 

 

Simmons didn’t get credited with an assist here, but this was exceptional ball movement from the Sixers and it all started with the Aussie. The good old hockey assist.

 

 

And here’s your play of the night. Simmons crossed up Zach Auguste from the left wing to get a step on him and while moving to his right delivered a gorgeous bounce pass from the foul line to a right baseline cutting Luwawu-Cabarrot.  He’s bounce passing the ball back across his body while moving to his right and with the off-hand. That’s absurd!

 

 

This is why it’s important to surround Simmons with good shooters.

 

 

And this is why it’s important to surround Simmons with good shooters, part two.

 

 

Let’s nitpick a little bit. Simmons clearly doesn’t have a lot of confidence in his jumper at this time. He should’ve pulled the trigger here at the left elbow, but instead attempted to dribble and turned the ball over.

 

 

Here’s another instance where Simmons probably should’ve pulled up for the left elbow jumper in transition after snatching the defensive rebound, instead giving it up to Holmes, who missed the jumper.

 

 

Ivica Zubac was stationed at the lower left block, giving Simmons the jumper. Simmons, who was near the three-point line, drove the baseline anyway and dished it off to Luwawu-Cabarrot for the easy layup. This is the mismatch Simmons provides because he’s way too quick for the stiff Zubac, but could’ve shot the ball.

 

 

Brown sat down with the announce team to answer a few questions during the game, including one about Simmons’ reluctance to shoot.

 

 

Simmons wasn’t the only one creating highlights, watch Jerami Grant soar from the right wing for an emphatic dunk. That gave me a bitter beer face.

 

 

The Sixers take the floor again later tonight against the Chicago Bulls.

1 Comment

  1. Skippy

    Ben Simmons needs to be more assertive, look for his shot more, and why is Tj McConnell constantly playing keep away from Ben Simmons?

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