LSU's Ben Simmons

[usedtobe1]

Pistol Pete Maravich and his saggy socks. What a player. I remember going to watch him at the All-College tournament in OKC. What a scorer. He could dribble a basketball, too. He dribbled a ball everywhere he went. My favorite story was about a car that his Dad, Press Maravich, owned. Press was actually his coach at LSU, too. Press took the back passenger-side door off the car. As he drove down the street, Pete would dribble the ball as his Dad drove the car. No lie.

 

[AdaSooner]

I hadn't thought of that comparison. I think Simmons has an excellent future. But, the comparison to Magic suggests that someone hadn't seen Magic. He was a point guard, and I saw nothing that said that Simmons could bring the ball up against a press. He is like Magic and Pete in that he can pass, but not as effectively as they did. They took it to another level. I also doubt that he could play post in the NBA finals (at least one of the seven games, as a sub for an injured Jabbar). I think they would eat him alive. Excellent prospect. Wrong comparisons.

Syb, in case I misled you, I'm not saying Simmons is even close to the level of Magic or Pistol Pete. He's got a long way to go before deserves to be compared to two of the best ball handlers/dribblers/passers in history. Those two guys were on a different level entirely. I see no comparison in their style of play, except they excelled in those three skill sets. They weren't too bad on scoring the ball either.

 

[DenverSooner]

It's obvious Simmons has a lot of potential that will make him wealthy someday. But, all of this talk about him being the next "LeBron James" or "Magic Johnson" is premature at best. He's got unique skills for a kid his size, especially for a freshman not far removed from his senior year in high school. Yet, he's not even close to Magic or LeBron when they were his age. I saw Magic play in high school, and he was a much better ball handler and passer than the young man I saw in yesterday's game.

So did Lafrentz at KU. so did Penny. Lots of guys were going to be the next magic but it never happened.

 

[steverocks35]

Yep, you didn't see Magic standing around a lot with the ball just looking around.

 

[catoosanumber22]

I'll say this for Ben Simmons....to have 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists despite being very passive and not having the best coaching is pretty phenomenal. If 14-9-5 is an " average " game for you, you are something special.

 

[sybarite]

Syb, in case I misled you, I'm not saying Simmons is even close to the level of Magic or Pistol Pete. He's got a long way to go before deserves to be compared to two of the best ball handlers/dribblers/passers in history. Those two guys were on a different level entirely. I see no comparison in their style of play, except they excelled in those three skill sets. They weren't too bad on scoring the ball either.

No. I was clear on what you meant. I just hadn't thought of a style comparison to Maravich.

 

[Swans]

I'll say this for Ben Simmons....to have 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists despite being very passive and not having the best coaching is pretty phenomenal. If 14-9-5 is an " average " game for you, you are something special.

Those stats are all below his averages for the season. Doesn't apply here, but I remember the only guy who could slow Michael Jordan was.....Dean Smith. Simmons plays within the system and, he's a freshman.

 

[steverocks35]

All his assists came in the first half when they couldn't miss. In the second half he looked disinterested. It may be bad coaching, but having a competitive fire can't really be coached.

 

[catoosanumber22]

Those stats are all below his averages for the season. Doesn't apply here, but I remember the only guy who could slow Michael Jordan was.....Dean Smith. Simmons plays within the system and, he's a freshman.

Definitely. I appreciate that Brent Musburger was bold enough to call out Johnny Jones' coaching ability, or lack of it. Rare to see commentators and announcers criticize coaches, partly because a large number of them are former coaches or players that hope to land a coaching job at some point. They don't want to burn any bridges in the profession.

 

[stormspencer]

I'll say this for Ben Simmons....to have 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists despite being very passive and not having the best coaching is pretty phenomenal. If 14-9-5 is an " average " game for you, you are something special.

Exactly. Maybe I'm misinterpreting some posts on this thread, but a few of the comments about him on this thread are absolutely absurd. The guy is a beast and is the universally agreed upon #1 pick in the draft this June. His skill set for a guy his size is ridiculous. Is he Magic or LeBron?....of course not! Is he too passive/unselfish at times?....yes, but part of that is putting him in a position to be successful (coaching). And let's not forget....he is a freshman.

I've read several references about him not getting a shot or an assist the last portion of the game. As far as I'm concerned, that has more to do with his coach and not making it an active priority to get the ball in his hands through play calls. Could he have demanded the ball?....sure, but that apparently wasn't within the context of the offense at the time. Again, I believe that is more to do with the coach not creating an active role for him down the stretch.

The other part of the argument is that he is the ultimate team player. Simmons actively attempts to get his teammates involved. Yesterday may have been the best game that LSU has played this season....and it was in part because he got other players involved.

I think some of the criticism of Simmons on this thread is not fact-based and is unwarranted.....sorry.:facepalm

 

[steverocks35]

Sorry, but that doesn't explain how he had ZERO assists in the second half, and ZERO points in the last 10 minutes.

 

[Sooner04]

The lack of assists had more to do with the fact that his guards, who normally can't shoot a lick, reverted to form. Quarterman can barely hit his butt with both hands and he was 5-5 from deep. Their fans were stunned by his shooting performance.

Fact of the matter is when we started making our shots he shrunk from the challenge. To cap, his help defense on the winning bucket was weak and he whiffed on Spangler who was right there for a potential tip.

Great player. Tremendous future. Enormous ego (read the recent SI story). And a little bit entitled (true freshman, last to be introduced during warmups).

 

[steverocks35]

Agreed Sooner04, I re-watched the game, and Simmons loafed for most of the second half. Entitled is a good word for him.

 

[oudna]

To cap, his help defense on the winning bucket was weak and he whiffed on Spangler who was right there for a potential tip.

Yep

 

[skyvue]

Great player. Tremendous future. Enormous ego (read the recent SI story). And a little bit entitled (true freshman, last to be introduced during warmups).

Yeah, I think he's been told how great he is a bit too often and for a bit too long. He seems like a good kid, I'm not knocking him, but I do wonder if he hasn't come to view himself as the Annointed One. He came across that way just a bit during a video interview I saw yesterday afternoon leading up to the game.

 

[Zimwillett]

To cap, his help defense on the winning bucket was weak and he whiffed on Spangler who was right there for a potential tip.

Great observation. Buddy also curled around and had a real shot at a tip in if it went off the other side. Lon has clearly coached these guys to crash the glass hard in end game situations, and it's paid big dividends.

Simmons is clearly a talented player, but he really didn't "fight" for anything all game. Spangler and Lattin got multiple rebounds and "tap backs" on the offensive and defensive end simply because they out-hustled Simmons on the boards. And he clearly got frustrated with how hard Spangler was battling him on the blocks. I think it's a big part of the reason he became so passive.

 

[sperry]

Simmons is special, and it's embarrassing seeing our fans attempt to belittle him for a game in which he had 14-9-5 playing against a bunch of seniors on the #1 team in the country.

 

[152219]

Simmons is special, and it's embarrassing seeing our fans attempt to belittle him for a game in which he had 14-9-5 playing against a bunch of seniors on the #1 team in the country.

Agreed. I have seen him play 5-6 times and the guy is uber talented. And a freshman.

 

[steverocks35]

I'm not belittling him, I'm just calling it like I see it. There is no doubt whatsoever that he is a special talent, but in the second half his effort was terrible. I don't know what the problem is, I just chalk it up to bad coaching.

 

[sooner 1234]

Simmons is special, and it's embarrassing seeing our fans attempt to belittle him for a game in which he had 14-9-5 playing against a bunch of seniors on the #1 team in the country.

What's embarrassing is seeing fans like yourself foam at the mouth at a guys potential and not his product on the court .

Dickie V said this guy and buddy were the best players in the country and IF he had to vote today he would probably vote for buddy ...... Probably ??

It's embarrassing to even mention them in the same sentence right now .

This player is so amazing , the next lebron ..... He can't he get his team ranked . They may not even make the big dance . That's how dominate he is in the college game . He's 20% of a starting lineup , the best in years , and may not even take his team to a playoff that 64 other teams will make .

What's embarrassing is some so called fans of the game like yourself would vote him POY over a dominating star like Buddy , because what he has a chance to become .
They would give him a college award for what he might do in the NBA.