[valentine]

As it stands right now…Simmons airballs a lot of jumpshots. Personally, I’ve seen him hit plenty of 3’s in non-college matches…..but an airball is an airball regardless of which language you speak. His mechanics aren’t that good to be honest…twists his body and arm pulls away. 

In College, his lack of shooting hurts him and his team in obvious ways. Defenders sag off and clog the paint. He still dominates by scoring a lot of points inside at a high %…but it really mitigates his scoring & facilitating game. 

I don’t have a statistic for the liklihood of a poor NCAA shooter improving significantly in the pros. Guys like Jason Kidd turned into dead-eye 3pt shooters over time, and practice makes perfect. Then I look at guys like Greek Freak and MKG and you wonder if they’ll ever learn to shoot. I’m going to assume its about 50%  probability either way. 

So how good could be if Simmons developed a jumpshot at a league-average level. Just good enough so that defenders can’t sag off.

All Star? MVP? Lebron?

You Decide!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Greekballin]

 lol not Lebron that’s for sure..Lebron is a once in a lifetime athlete, while Simmons is an ok athlete.. 

[he_gets_bucketsParticipant]

 He’s much more than just an Ok athlete, even if he isn’t on LeBron’s level he’s still a very high level athlete by NBA standards

[he_gets_bucketsParticipant]

 He’s much more than just an Ok athlete, even if he isn’t on LeBron’s level he’s still a very high level athlete by NBA standards

[Greekballin]

 lol not Lebron that’s for sure..Lebron is a once in a lifetime athlete, while Simmons is an ok athlete.. 

[ropeParticipant]

 His possible ceiling is probably about as high as a player can get, jump shot or no.

The thing that really gets me is how a guy that size goes end to end so easily.  Getting to the hole or a nifty pass.  If he could pull up for a reliable 3 ball, that would be insane.

I am not putting him in a Magic Johnson class (Top 5 and my all time fav), but he has a bit of that in his game.  Just a unique skill set.  Magic couldn’t shoot that well at first, but it came with time.

I think it is actually helping Simmons that LSU is playing competitive games this year, rather than blowing everyone away.  Every shot that you make that really matters to the outcome of a game, the better.

 

 

 

 

[ropeParticipant]

 His possible ceiling is probably about as high as a player can get, jump shot or no.

The thing that really gets me is how a guy that size goes end to end so easily.  Getting to the hole or a nifty pass.  If he could pull up for a reliable 3 ball, that would be insane.

I am not putting him in a Magic Johnson class (Top 5 and my all time fav), but he has a bit of that in his game.  Just a unique skill set.  Magic couldn’t shoot that well at first, but it came with time.

I think it is actually helping Simmons that LSU is playing competitive games this year, rather than blowing everyone away.  Every shot that you make that really matters to the outcome of a game, the better.

 

 

 

 

[negguaryParticipant]

with a jump shot even average, he has to be on superstar level. Without a jump shot in the nba he could be at best a less versatile draymond green. Without a jump shot in the league it just completely neutralizes the things that he’s good at. He won’t be able to bully guys like that in the paint, and he won’t be able to just run pass guys when they are sagging off. But if he gets a jump shot I would say he is as unguardable than anyone in the league right now!!

[negguaryParticipant]

with a jump shot even average, he has to be on superstar level. Without a jump shot in the nba he could be at best a less versatile draymond green. Without a jump shot in the league it just completely neutralizes the things that he’s good at. He won’t be able to bully guys like that in the paint, and he won’t be able to just run pass guys when they are sagging off. But if he gets a jump shot I would say he is as unguardable than anyone in the league right now!!

[Greekballin]

 ¨But if he gets a jump shot I would say he is as unguardable than anyone in the league right now!!¨ definitely one of the most retarded statement I heard this year on this forum.. /sigh

[Greekballin]

 ¨But if he gets a jump shot I would say he is as unguardable than anyone in the league right now!!¨ definitely one of the most retarded statement I heard this year on this forum.. /sigh

[The GoatParticipant]

There have been a lot of power forwards with very limited range that have still gone on to have successful NBA careers. He can handle the ball and pass, so if you get him going downhill, forget it. He’ll either score at the rim with either hand or make the correct pass. If he is on the block, he is good enough to score one on one so he will often need to be doubled. Again, if that happens, he has the passing skills to find the right man.

If for some reason he is put in a system where they try and have him pick and pop or spot up, yes, he may struggle. But scouts and teams know who this guy is and the unique skills he brings to the table. If a team structures their play and roster around what he offers, we are going to see a long term all star and a club capable of being successful for a long time.

[The GoatParticipant]

There have been a lot of power forwards with very limited range that have still gone on to have successful NBA careers. He can handle the ball and pass, so if you get him going downhill, forget it. He’ll either score at the rim with either hand or make the correct pass. If he is on the block, he is good enough to score one on one so he will often need to be doubled. Again, if that happens, he has the passing skills to find the right man.

If for some reason he is put in a system where they try and have him pick and pop or spot up, yes, he may struggle. But scouts and teams know who this guy is and the unique skills he brings to the table. If a team structures their play and roster around what he offers, we are going to see a long term all star and a club capable of being successful for a long time.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Usually if a player can’t shoot you can sag off take away the drive and take away the effectiveness of that player. This doesn’t work with Simmons as he seems to have that rare savvy/craftiness to him to compensate for his lack of a jumpshot. He reminds me of Rondo in those regards.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Usually if a player can’t shoot you can sag off take away the drive and take away the effectiveness of that player. This doesn’t work with Simmons as he seems to have that rare savvy/craftiness to him to compensate for his lack of a jumpshot. He reminds me of Rondo in those regards.

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 The things that gets me the most when people on this forum talk about these top prospects is that they act like these guys won’t improve.  Most are 19 or 20 years old.  Simmons will add a competent jump shot to his game.  If Blake Griffin can do it, Simmons can do it.  Even without the jump shot Simmons will still be great, I expect his first few years to go similar to Blakes actually, slightly less highlight dunks, more highlight passes.  Slightly less rebounds, slightly more assists.  

Stop talking about these guys as finished products, most are not. 

 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 The things that gets me the most when people on this forum talk about these top prospects is that they act like these guys won’t improve.  Most are 19 or 20 years old.  Simmons will add a competent jump shot to his game.  If Blake Griffin can do it, Simmons can do it.  Even without the jump shot Simmons will still be great, I expect his first few years to go similar to Blakes actually, slightly less highlight dunks, more highlight passes.  Slightly less rebounds, slightly more assists.  

Stop talking about these guys as finished products, most are not. 

 

[The Garbage ManParticipant]

 I salivate at a Ben Simmons with a jumer. He’s a great athlete with polished skills, an amazing finsher, an amazing passer and one hell of a defender. I could go on and on. He would turn into one of the greatest of all-time if he gets a jumper, he still will be great without one though. No matter what, I have a feeling I’ll be telling my grandchildren about how I witnessed him play.

[The Garbage ManParticipant]

 I salivate at a Ben Simmons with a jumer. He’s a great athlete with polished skills, an amazing finsher, an amazing passer and one hell of a defender. I could go on and on. He would turn into one of the greatest of all-time if he gets a jumper, he still will be great without one though. No matter what, I have a feeling I’ll be telling my grandchildren about how I witnessed him play.

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