3. Can Simmons stay on the court?
Before you get your pitchforks and torches, Simmons’ shortcomings must be addressed. He’s still a non-factor outside of floater territory, and that will matter in tight games.
Head coach Brett Brown has gotten creative since integrating Butler and Harris into the fold; Simmons has been used more off the ball as a screener and roller as those two create offense. More elements are being added to his game instead of having him camp out in the “dunker’s spot” while Embiid posts up.
However, this does not fix what could ultimately be Simmons’ downfall in these playoffs: his jump shot. As LeBron James showed in last Sunday’s matinee when the Los Angeles Lakers came to town, and just as the Boston Celtics exhibited in last season’s playoffs, this weakness of Simmons can, and will, cramp the offense’s spacing.
Boston isn’t the only team capable of making Simmons work; the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks both employ legions of athletic wing bodies. As long as the Sixers make it to round two (any other scenario puts Philly in DEFCON state), Simmons will be tested. Thoroughly.
A step in the right direction came during that Lakers game, when Simmons attempted a legitimate pull-up 3. It didn’t go in, but he’s at least making steps in the right direction.
If he can manage to sink open triples off, say, an Embiid post-up, the offense could reach unconquered heights.