The idea that Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons would spend the off-season improving his shooting stroke has become an annual buzzword in Philadelphia.
That would certainly be the case again this season, when Simmons melted off a foul—and disappeared from Philadelphia's offense—as the 76ers fell and were knocked out of the playoffs, losing in seven games to the Atlanta Hawks.
But not 24 hours after his team's season ended, 76ers coach Doc Rivers said on Monday that he believes this summer will be different for Simmons. Why? Because, according to Rivers, not only is Simmons up to the task, but the Sixers have a plan to address their shooting problems that will involve doing the "right thing" and doing it "the right way."
"I believe that without going into detail about what we're doing, I believe we know what the right job is, and the right kind of work, and the right way to do it. Right way," Rivers said as to why it would be off-season. As far as the shooting of Simmons is concerned, it is different.
"You can work all the time. But if it's not done in the right way and in the right kind of work, you can't improve. After being here for a year, I really believe what we have done." And now we have to. We've got to work to do it. It won't be an easy task. But it's definitely something that Ben can do."
Sources told ESPN's Brian Windhorst that Simmons' playing for Australia at the Tokyo Olympics is doubtful and a decision is expected to be finalized in the next day or two. He plans to spend the summer on skill development. The Australians are medal contenders and are due to begin training in Los Angeles this week and are scheduled to play Team USA at two exhibition games in Las Vegas next month.
Ever since he took to a court in a Sixers uniform at the start of the 2017–18 NBA season, Simmons has shown a lot, including his size and quickness, his excellent passing, and one of the league's most versatile defenders.
It's a package that led to Simmons being named to three All-Star teams and one All-NBA team and winning the 2018 Rookie of the Year award. It's also a package that the exterior shot lacks. And while that has often revolved around Simmons being a reluctant 3-point shooter, in these playoffs Simmons went from being a 60% foul shooter in the regular season, the area he played for each of his four NBA seasons. has been 34.2%. After the season.
"I'm not shooting well with this series," Simmons said after the Game 7 loss on Sunday night. "Aggressively, I wasn't there. I didn't do enough for my teammates. ... There are so many things I need to work on."
Rivers said the team has to make Simmons a more confident foul shooter — and if that can happen, everything else will be fine.
"We're not hiding that Ben has to be a better free throw shooter and a more confident free throw shooter," Rivers said. "If that happens, I really believe that there are many other parts of his game to follow. I said that, if you remember, before the season even started. The first thing I said was, 'We need him Had to line up 10 times a night. And want to get on the line 10 times a night. So we have to work so that he can get there. But if we can get him there, his game goes to a different level."
Rivers also made waves shortly after the Philadelphia defeat when he said "I don't know" in response to a question about whether Simmons could be a championship-level point guard.
On Monday, Rivers tried to back down a bit, repeatedly stating that he believed in Simmons and that he was confident he could make the necessary reforms to help the Sixers overcome the devastating despair that plagued Eastern After finishing the regular season with the best record in the series, the series was lost. the seminar.
"I'm positive in Ben," Rivers said. "I'm still very excited over Ben. But there is work. There is work. There is. And Ben will be willing to do it. Sometimes you have to go through stuff just to see it, and to be honest with it .
"Obviously what Ben just did... I can't imagine it. Because he has so much greatness in everything around him that he does, and there are areas he can fix quickly." , in my opinion, and maybe better, that would take him to another level. And, you know, sometimes you don't know why you're in different places, you know what I mean? But this could be one of them, and I see it as a huge challenge, but definitely one doable."