Shams: Jrue Holiday Traded to Blazers For Simons & Two Second Rounders

[Roy H.]

Bobby Manning: Brad Stevens said Anfernee Simons? shooting is elite and he?s getting better. Notes Georges Niang?s winning and that ?he?s a pain to play against, which I admire

Are we being gaslit?

Where's the "getting better" part come from?  His shooting efficiency has declined five straight seasons, and his 3PT% has gone 42.6% -> 40.5% -> 37.7% -> 38.5% -> 36.3%

36.3% is league average, which includes bigs.

[Phantom255x]

I like Simons even though he's limited defensively. And sure, we can see what Minott and Garza have to offer. But jesus, calling Niang a winner and saying he's gonna be a big part of next season. Yuck

I'm still holding out hope they trade Niang + pick(s) for another PF/C but it seems like they are mostly done making moves.

[Roy H.]

I like Simons even though he's limited defensively. And sure, we can see what Minott and Garza have to offer. But jesus, calling Niang a winner and saying he's gonna be a big part of next season. Yuck

I'm still holding out hope they trade Niang + pick(s) for another PF/C but it seems like they are mostly done making moves.

Yeah, Brad said we'll be center by committee and:

Stevens said center won't be highlighted on paper as C's strength given what their players have done in their careers. Says it's on them to prove that otherwise. Noted earlier that, for now, this will likely be the roster Boston begins the year with.

[Donoghus]

I like Simons even though he's limited defensively. And sure, we can see what Minott and Garza have to offer. But jesus, calling Niang a winner and saying he's gonna be a big part of next season. Yuck

I'm still holding out hope they trade Niang + pick(s) for another PF/C but it seems like they are mostly done making moves.

Yeah, Brad said we'll be center by committee and:

Stevens said center won't be highlighted on paper as C's strength given what their players have done in their careers. Says it's on them to prove that otherwise. Noted earlier that, for now, this will likely be the roster Boston begins the year with.

"Anything" by committee is never a good thing.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Bobby Manning: Brad Stevens said Anfernee Simons? shooting is elite and he?s getting better. Notes Georges Niang?s winning and that ?he?s a pain to play against, which I admire

Are we being gaslit?

Where's the "getting better" part come from?  His shooting efficiency has declined five straight seasons, and his 3PT% has gone 42.6% -> 40.5% -> 37.7% -> 38.5% -> 36.3%

36.3% is league average, which includes bigs.

He didn't say that. He said Simons was still getting better as a player, but said that as a shooter and tough shot maker, he was pretty elite.

[Phantom255x]

I like Simons even though he's limited defensively. And sure, we can see what Minott and Garza have to offer. But jesus, calling Niang a winner and saying he's gonna be a big part of next season. Yuck

I'm still holding out hope they trade Niang + pick(s) for another PF/C but it seems like they are mostly done making moves.

Yeah, Brad said we'll be center by committee and:

Stevens said center won't be highlighted on paper as C's strength given what their players have done in their careers. Says it's on them to prove that otherwise. Noted earlier that, for now, this will likely be the roster Boston begins the year with.

"Anything" by committee is never a good thing.

It'll be like the days of Sullinger/Olynyk/Zeller/Mickey, etc. We're gonna get wrecked every game inside and getting outrebounded hard. When we go up against teams with the elite PF/C, good luck. Because now Horford and his defense are also gone and he was an "Embiid/Giannis" stopper sort of

[Who]

Bobby Manning: Brad Stevens said Anfernee Simons? shooting is elite and he?s getting better. Notes Georges Niang?s winning and that ?he?s a pain to play against, which I admire

Are we being gaslit?

Where's the "getting better" part come from?  His shooting efficiency has declined five straight seasons, and his 3PT% has gone 42.6% -> 40.5% -> 37.7% -> 38.5% -> 36.3%

36.3% is league average, which includes bigs.

I agree with elite. Last 4 seasons he has taken 8.5 3PTA per game and made 38% of them. I don't know how many players in the league can match that over that period but I am guessing it is less than 5 players.

That level of volume with accuracy is an elite combination. We are talking about a guy who is consistently among the most prolific 3 point marksmen in the league.

[JBcat]

Bobby Manning: Brad Stevens said Anfernee Simons? shooting is elite and he?s getting better. Notes Georges Niang?s winning and that ?he?s a pain to play against, which I admire

Are we being gaslit?

Where's the "getting better" part come from?  His shooting efficiency has declined five straight seasons, and his 3PT% has gone 42.6% -> 40.5% -> 37.7% -> 38.5% -> 36.3%

36.3% is league average, which includes bigs.

I agree with elite. Last 4 seasons he has taken 8.5 3PTA per game and made 38% of them. I don't know how many players in the league can match that over that period but I am guessing it is less than 5 players.

That level of volume with accuracy is an elite combination. We are talking about a guy who is consistently among the most prolific 3 point marksmen in the league.

I agree. Some context is important as well.

For players who took at least 150 catch and shoot and relocation 3?s last season only Isiah Joe and Steph Curry better Simons 40.5%. For Simons career on catch and shoot and relocation 3?s he is at 41.5%, the 5th best mark in the NBA with at least 500 attempts since 2018 when he was drafted.

Playing as your number 1 option with no Dame around and with limited help will make you have to take tougher shots and drag your percentages more.

Concentrating more on more catch and shoot and relocation 3?s playing off of Brown and later Tatum he should be among the best of the best as he has been in the past.

[Roy H.]

Bobby Manning: Brad Stevens said Anfernee Simons? shooting is elite and he?s getting better. Notes Georges Niang?s winning and that ?he?s a pain to play against, which I admire

Are we being gaslit?

Where's the "getting better" part come from?  His shooting efficiency has declined five straight seasons, and his 3PT% has gone 42.6% -> 40.5% -> 37.7% -> 38.5% -> 36.3%

36.3% is league average, which includes bigs.

I agree with elite. Last 4 seasons he has taken 8.5 3PTA per game and made 38% of them. I don't know how many players in the league can match that over that period but I am guessing it is less than 5 players.

That level of volume with accuracy is an elite combination. We are talking about a guy who is consistently among the most prolific 3 point marksmen in the league.

If you look at 8.0 3PA and 38.0% since 2023, it's Curry, Thompson, Beasley, Markannen, Herro

Since 2024 it's Curry, McCollum, Thompson, Beasley, Herro

Last year it was Curry, Beasley, White and Edwards

Simons gets added if you include 2022, but the question is, was that an exceptionally good year, or will he return to the neighborhood of 40% on high volume?  The 36.3% last season ranks Simons 109th out of 174 players who qualified for the 3PT leaderboard.

[keevsnick]

Bobby Manning: Brad Stevens said Anfernee Simons? shooting is elite and he?s getting better. Notes Georges Niang?s winning and that ?he?s a pain to play against, which I admire

Are we being gaslit?

Where's the "getting better" part come from?  His shooting efficiency has declined five straight seasons, and his 3PT% has gone 42.6% -> 40.5% -> 37.7% -> 38.5% -> 36.3%

36.3% is league average, which includes bigs.

I agree with elite. Last 4 seasons he has taken 8.5 3PTA per game and made 38% of them. I don't know how many players in the league can match that over that period but I am guessing it is less than 5 players.

That level of volume with accuracy is an elite combination. We are talking about a guy who is consistently among the most prolific 3 point marksmen in the league.

If you look at 8.0 3PA and 38.0% since 2023, it's Curry, Thompson, Beasley, Markannen, Herro

Since 2024 it's Curry, McCollum, Thompson, Beasley, Herro

Last year it was Curry, Beasley, White and Edwards

Simons gets added if you include 2022, but the question is, was that an exceptionally good year, or will he return to the neighborhood of 40% on high volume?  The 36.3% last season ranks Simons 109th out of 174 players who qualified for the 3PT leaderboard.

Most likely outcome is probably somewhere in the middle. He's averaged about 38% on high volume the last 4 years, one year lower (36%), one year higher (40%), two right about in the middle. I'd be pretty happy with 38% on volume. Shooting % can be noisy, most likely outcome is typically a player shoots their career average.

I'm actually more interested in whether he can be anything other than a complete nothing on defense. A lot of small, not excatly defense first guards have played in Boston recently. IT, Irving, Kemba, Schroeder all come to mind. None of them were complete nothings on defense, they at least competed and used the limited physical skill they had. Thats really all i want from Simons, I hope he at least puts in full effort to not be a complete push over. He's not super, super tiny. He is 6'3.

[keevsnick]

I like Simons even though he's limited defensively. And sure, we can see what Minott and Garza have to offer. But jesus, calling Niang a winner and saying he's gonna be a big part of next season. Yuck

I'm still holding out hope they trade Niang + pick(s) for another PF/C but it seems like they are mostly done making moves.

Yeah, Brad said we'll be center by committee and:

Stevens said center won't be highlighted on paper as C's strength given what their players have done in their careers. Says it's on them to prove that otherwise. Noted earlier that, for now, this will likely be the roster Boston begins the year with.

"Anything" by committee is never a good thing.

Also.... who exactly is on the "committe?" There's a grand total of two guys on the 15 man roster who are healthy and taller than 6'8. Its not like they are throwing a bunch of guys out. They have two real centers, Queta and Garza, who played a combined 1000 minutes last year. Besides that, its two small ball options in Tillman/Minott and a 2-way guy. Hardly a "commitee."

[Who]

Bobby Manning: Brad Stevens said Anfernee Simons? shooting is elite and he?s getting better. Notes Georges Niang?s winning and that ?he?s a pain to play against, which I admire

Are we being gaslit?

Where's the "getting better" part come from?  His shooting efficiency has declined five straight seasons, and his 3PT% has gone 42.6% -> 40.5% -> 37.7% -> 38.5% -> 36.3%

36.3% is league average, which includes bigs.

I agree with elite. Last 4 seasons he has taken 8.5 3PTA per game and made 38% of them. I don't know how many players in the league can match that over that period but I am guessing it is less than 5 players.

That level of volume with accuracy is an elite combination. We are talking about a guy who is consistently among the most prolific 3 point marksmen in the league.

If you look at 8.0 3PA and 38.0% since 2023, it's Curry, Thompson, Beasley, Markannen, Herro

Since 2024 it's Curry, McCollum, Thompson, Beasley, Herro

Last year it was Curry, Beasley, White and Edwards

Simons gets added if you include 2022, but the question is, was that an exceptionally good year, or will he return to the neighborhood of 40% on high volume?  The 36.3% last season ranks Simons 109th out of 174 players who qualified for the 3PT leaderboard.

Most likely outcome is probably somewhere in the middle. He's averaged about 38% on high volume the last 4 years, one year lower (36%), one year higher (40%), two right about in the middle. I'd be pretty happy with 38% on volume. Shooting % can be noisy, most likely outcome is typically a player shoots their career average.

I'm actually more interested in whether he can be anything other than a complete nothing on defense. A lot of small, not excatly defense first guards have played in Boston recently. IT, Irving, Kemba, Schroeder all come to mind. None of them were complete nothings on defense, they at least competed and used the limited physical skill they had. Thats really all i want from Simons, I hope he at least puts in full effort to not be a complete push over. He's not super, super tiny. He is 6'3.

6-3 with length. Something like a 6-9 wingspan. Quickness is fine.

He defends his own position okay. The problem is whenever he has to switch onto someone bigger than him. He is so lightweight in terms of bulk / strength / weight that he gets pushed around easily. He dies on switches - which unfortunately for us happen often in today's game.

Pritchard became a decent defender after putting on more strength. He struggled a lot against bigger players when he first came into the league. A Simons has to do the same thing if he wants to be a winning player in the NBA. He has the skills. He has the size, length and quickness. He just needs to get stronger physically and compete harder on defense. I don't think he'll ever get strong enough to play the SG full time but he can get big enough to be a decent switchable PG.

But he has to do the work - in the gym. He has to get stronger.

I was watching a Reggie Miller interview the other day talking about practicing against Lakers players back when he was in college at UCLA. Everyone was telling him he had to get bigger to play in the NBA. Michael Cooper said - no, not bigger, stronger ... get stronger. Cooper a skinny strong 6-6 himself. So that is what Reggie did. That is what Anfernee Simons has to do. He has to get stronger. Right now, Simons is too physically weak to compete against any wing level players nevermind big men whenever he is switched onto them. That is killing his defense.