[SlickBouncePassParticipant]

 Some players definitely add to their game (J. Kidd 3 point shot) (Jordan fade-away), but Jordan was an enigma as far as continually adding to his game.  When Jordan’s athleticism began to wane, he still had that old-man juke game and was hitting that crisp beautiful fade-away which made him GOAT.

I was watching Kobe Summer-League highlights and 20 years later, I would argue that all the tools/skills he had in 2016 he had in 1996.

Someone said in a post earlier that you just knew Lebron/Durant were going to be stars because of their skill package and athleticism.

How much does player development really get you at the NBA level?  As players age how much more important is skill vs. ball-IQ, intelligence, knowing how to play, seeing the game?

 

This is all in relation to Simmons.  When I saw him play at LSU what set him apart was his always knowing the right play.  He was always in the right position.  Always made the right pass.

Simmons passing is at an all-time great level, I’ll say that now.  He needs to improve strength and finishing at the rim.  He needs to hit that mid-range wide open jumper when they give him space. 

I think off the pick and roll he is a matchup nightmare at the next level.  I also think he raises his game in NBA play against tougher competition.  He should be able to streamline to the rim at anytime.  This is off of video we’ve all seen of him to this point.

My question is, will he ever become really good at finishing at the rim or hitting the midrange/3 pt jumper?

Right now his passing is at an all time great level and he will beat people off mismatches and he will be able to guard 1 – 4.  I only question his laziness on defense.  We won’t tolerate that in Philly, and I think he will feed off the crowd.

But yeah, how much will Simmons improve, or will he just fine-tune his game?  Like Lebron, will that shot ever be great?  Or will we just have to deal with it.  

Can y’all provide examples of how great players become superstars by adding skills they didn’t have in high school?  

Or is what they have at 18 going to define their careers?  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ChewyParticipant]

 Kobe did NOT have that post up fadeaway in 1996. It took him years to get that down. Plus, even if he didn’t add too many more skills to his game, his efficency with the moves (shots) was what was impressive.

Westbrook improved his shooting greatly since coming into the league. In 2012-2013 he has his best shooting year making 32% of his 300 shots. As a rookie he hit 27% of 127 shots. It may not seem like a huge leap, but with the way he attcks the basket, being able to knock down a three every now and again really opened up his attacking options.

Leonard as a rookie shot 37% on 109 3’s attempted. This past year: 44% on 291 attempts.

Lebron- He has no post up game at 18. Now he uses it so regularly that his teams need a strech 4 to make it work (Bosh and Love)

 

 

 

 

 

[ChewyParticipant]

 Kobe did NOT have that post up fadeaway in 1996. It took him years to get that down. Plus, even if he didn’t add too many more skills to his game, his efficency with the moves (shots) was what was impressive.

Westbrook improved his shooting greatly since coming into the league. In 2012-2013 he has his best shooting year making 32% of his 300 shots. As a rookie he hit 27% of 127 shots. It may not seem like a huge leap, but with the way he attcks the basket, being able to knock down a three every now and again really opened up his attacking options.

Leonard as a rookie shot 37% on 109 3’s attempted. This past year: 44% on 291 attempts.

Lebron- He has no post up game at 18. Now he uses it so regularly that his teams need a strech 4 to make it work (Bosh and Love)

 

 

 

 

 

[ChewyParticipant]

 Kobe did NOT have that post up fadeaway in 1996. It took him years to get that down. Plus, even if he didn’t add too many more skills to his game, his efficency with the moves (shots) was what was impressive.

Westbrook improved his shooting greatly since coming into the league. In 2012-2013 he has his best shooting year making 32% of his 300 shots. As a rookie he hit 27% of 127 shots. It may not seem like a huge leap, but with the way he attcks the basket, being able to knock down a three every now and again really opened up his attacking options.

Leonard as a rookie shot 37% on 109 3’s attempted. This past year: 44% on 291 attempts.

Lebron- He has no post up game at 18. Now he uses it so regularly that his teams need a strech 4 to make it work (Bosh and Love)

 

 

 

 

 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 I think if you are expecting Simmons to some day reach Lebrons offensive output you will be greatly disappointed.  It’s just not his game.  I see him peaking at around 20ppg.  But when you throw hat in with 7 assists and 9 rebounds it’s very well rounded.  He will just never be an elite scorer… I can’t see it anyways.

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 I think if you are expecting Simmons to some day reach Lebrons offensive output you will be greatly disappointed.  It’s just not his game.  I see him peaking at around 20ppg.  But when you throw hat in with 7 assists and 9 rebounds it’s very well rounded.  He will just never be an elite scorer… I can’t see it anyways.

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 I think if you are expecting Simmons to some day reach Lebrons offensive output you will be greatly disappointed.  It’s just not his game.  I see him peaking at around 20ppg.  But when you throw hat in with 7 assists and 9 rebounds it’s very well rounded.  He will just never be an elite scorer… I can’t see it anyways.

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

When people compare Simmons to lebron  there is is this tendency to say "lebron wasn’t a great shooter at the same age either." However, there is a huge difference between where lebron was shooting the ball as a 19 year old and where Simmons is right now. Lebron wasn’t a great shooter when he came into the league, but he had confidence and could absolutely make shots out to NBA 3 point range from day one. He may not have been consistent but you still had to at least honor his ability to make shots and That opened up the game for him to use his strengths. Even if he had never really improved much as a shooter, he would have still been one of the best players in the game.

Simmons isn’t even comfortable or confident shooting the ball from mid-range right now, let alone 3 point range. Defenses don’t have to respect his ability to shoot it at all and it will severely limit his ability to do what he does best if he doesn’t improve. Maybe he will develop a reliable jump shot in time as lebron has done, or maybe he won’t, but he is not starting at the same point lebron was.

 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

When people compare Simmons to lebron  there is is this tendency to say "lebron wasn’t a great shooter at the same age either." However, there is a huge difference between where lebron was shooting the ball as a 19 year old and where Simmons is right now. Lebron wasn’t a great shooter when he came into the league, but he had confidence and could absolutely make shots out to NBA 3 point range from day one. He may not have been consistent but you still had to at least honor his ability to make shots and That opened up the game for him to use his strengths. Even if he had never really improved much as a shooter, he would have still been one of the best players in the game.

Simmons isn’t even comfortable or confident shooting the ball from mid-range right now, let alone 3 point range. Defenses don’t have to respect his ability to shoot it at all and it will severely limit his ability to do what he does best if he doesn’t improve. Maybe he will develop a reliable jump shot in time as lebron has done, or maybe he won’t, but he is not starting at the same point lebron was.

 

[MettaWorldDurant1Participant]

 Agreed I say the same thing for Brandon Ingram his skill set is really similar to Durant so they draw a lot of comparison but Durant was Better than Ingram at this point so ya never know  

[MettaWorldDurant1Participant]

 Agreed I say the same thing for Brandon Ingram his skill set is really similar to Durant so they draw a lot of comparison but Durant was Better than Ingram at this point so ya never know  

[MettaWorldDurant1Participant]

 Agreed I say the same thing for Brandon Ingram his skill set is really similar to Durant so they draw a lot of comparison but Durant was Better than Ingram at this point so ya never know  

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

When people compare Simmons to lebron  there is is this tendency to say "lebron wasn’t a great shooter at the same age either." However, there is a huge difference between where lebron was shooting the ball as a 19 year old and where Simmons is right now. Lebron wasn’t a great shooter when he came into the league, but he had confidence and could absolutely make shots out to NBA 3 point range from day one. He may not have been consistent but you still had to at least honor his ability to make shots and That opened up the game for him to use his strengths. Even if he had never really improved much as a shooter, he would have still been one of the best players in the game.

Simmons isn’t even comfortable or confident shooting the ball from mid-range right now, let alone 3 point range. Defenses don’t have to respect his ability to shoot it at all and it will severely limit his ability to do what he does best if he doesn’t improve. Maybe he will develop a reliable jump shot in time as lebron has done, or maybe he won’t, but he is not starting at the same point lebron was.

 

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