Ben Simmons is stepping up and proving why he’s one of the better all-around players in the NBA
Ben Simmons has always received a lot of heat given that he does not really shoot the ball or make a difference offensively scoring-wise, but in this series through two games, he has been fantastic not just defensively, but offensively as well.
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In Game 1, Simmons scored just 6 points, but he had 15 rebounds and 15 assists. In Game 2, Simmons remained aggressive and posted 22 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. All of his shots came inside the paint and given his length and athleticism, the Wizards just do not have anybody to guard Ben Simmons.
He is not known for being much of an offensive weapon as we have seen in this series, but given the Wizards lack of size and defensive tenacity, Ben Simmons has had his way with their defense, which has resulted in two fantastic performances by him in Games 1 and 2.
We already know that Ben Simmons is one of the best defenders in the league, hence why he is a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year, but if he can give the 76ers this kind of offensive production night-in and night-out, then they could be well on their way to the NBA Finals.
He is the difference-maker for this team because he is the third key piece next to Tobias Harris and Joel Embiid on offense. If the Sixers are getting points from Simmons, it is an added bonus to them and gives them that extra jolt they need to separate themselves from their opponents, much like what has happened in this series against the Wizards.
