Philadelphia 76ers: Ben Simmons a legit two-way sensation

Aside from his impressive counting stats, the Philadelphia 76ers have also benefited immensely from the defensive prowess of Ben Simmons.

In just 35 career NBA games, Ben Simmons has certainly made an impression. By averaging 16.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game, Simmons’ contributions have been a pivotal reason the Philadelphia 76ers are currently 10th in the Eastern Conference standings with a 17-19 record. Considering the Sixers didn’t win their 17th game last season until Jan. 25, this clearly represents a team on the rise.

Among an elite rookie class, Simmons currently ranks first in rebounds and assists while ranking third in scoring. In addition to these rankings among his contemporaries, Simmons ranks third among all players in triple-doubles, with his four ranking behind only Russell Westbrook and LeBron James.

So while numbers primarily represent Simmons’ proficiency at the offensive end, it’s been the devastating effect he has had at the defensive end that has gone somewhat unnoticed relative to his other contributions.

Through 35 games, Simmons ranks seventh in the league in steals at 1.9 per game, with his 0.9 blocks per game the highest average among all players ranked in the top 10 in steals. Furthermore, Simmons is ranked 13th with 3.0 deflections per game, whereby Simmons’ seven-foot wingspan complements the elite perimeter defense of Sixers’ swingman Robert Covington.

Given Simmons’ physical attributes and talent level, these contributions shouldn’t come as a complete shock. In the lead-up yo Simmons’ debut season, head coach Brett Brown was certainly confident of what was ahead for Simmons:

"“I think that because of his versatility, he’s going to be able to put out a lot of fires. I think because of his foot speed and length, if he gets cross-matched on a point guard, I’m OK with that.If he gets sort of buried behind a four-man, he’s been a four-man his whole life, I’m OK with that. I think that his footwork on a five-man, he can get around and front and show his hands and take away the physical aspect of it with quickness. I just feel like he can do a lot because of his physical gifts.”"

Additionally, Simmons’ direct opponents have currently shot the ball at a 4.1 percent lower clip than their season field goal percentage. More specifically, as Brown alluded to, Simmons’ has been able to tap into his physical gifts to much success.

In 54 defensive isolation possessions this season, Simmons’ has given up just 46 points, with his opponents shooting at just a 38.6 percent clip. Furthermore, in 41 defensive post-up possessions, Simmons has given up just 31 points, with his opponent shooting at just a 40.7 percent clip. This kind of defensive versatility is invaluable, and is only going to get better as Simmons gathers more experience and knowledge in the league.

Simmons’ most recent example of his two-way capabilities came during the Sixers’ 123-110 win over the Phoenix Suns where he posted 21 points, six assists, three steals and three blocks. In the process, Simmons became just the 13th rookie since 1963-64 to post such numbers in a game, joining the likes of Anfernee Hardaway, Lamar Odom and James. In addition, Simmons also recorded nine rebounds for the game, thus narrowly avoiding adding to his 10 double-doubles on the season.

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So while Simmons’ overall numbers may have dropped slightly in recent weeks, his ability to influence the game at both ends of the floor has been significant in his debut season.