Can Simmons play Center?

[loco_91]

Interesting question. I don't think Simmons has the toughness to play center against most matchups. One thing that most guys playing "up" a position have in common is that they are bad motherf--kers. Simmons doesn't fit the bill.

Still, he's a really awesome PF prospect. I've been getting more and more excited about him recently, and I won't be at all surprised if he turns out as the best player to enter the league since Anthony Davis.

*Karl Towns

Towns is currently the best player to enter the NBA since AD, but I actually do think that Simmons has a chance to be even better. Not saying I'd trade Towns for Simmons, but there's a real chance Simmons is that good.

Aha. I think Towns is better than Davis was his rookie year.

That's possible. It's definitely possible that Towns will end up a better player than Davis, especially if Davis spends his entire career playing for Alvin Gentry while Towns gets to play for Thibs. But my money is still on AD to become a multi-year MVP.

[csfansince60s]

I think Stevens would have a field day with him

Stevens and Simmons will be like our Pop and Duncan.

This will be our pay-back for '97. I CAN FEEL IT!!!

Feel the Ben!

BS and BS....COMING OUR WAY.

[walker834]

Simmons would be great if he was a center.

[celticmania]

He has a relatively short wingspan.  The crazy thing is his wingspan is actually longer than Olynyks and around the same as Zeller

[walker834]

Yeah I dont see him as like a bill russell shot blocker type.  He has good instincts as a rebounder coming from the top and then transitioning into a ball handler.  It's just his knack for getting the ball. 

It would be nice if STevens could turn him into a guy that doesnt necessarily have to block shots but i'm not sure i'm seeing it.  I loved Simmons at first for that reason but I don't know if he really is that. Seems like he can play all 5 positions though.

His game is definately interesting.  He has some Russell, Duncan, Wall, Lebron, Magic, Odom, Len Bias to him. But he's really some of those guys and none of those guys at the same time. He plays most like a taller John Wall to me who can post up though.

[KG Living Legend]

 To Quote Bobby Knight. NBA Gm. I need a Center, Knight said play M. Jordan at Center.

 Same goes for Simmons. I don't care what position you need, you take Simmons and play him there. In the Celtics case, we need a PF and Center so just pick a spot and plug him in there.

[walker834]

I like that way of thinking and would play at pf or center.  Magic played center as a rookie. With Isaiah, Smart, turner/bradley, Crowder and simmons on the floor thats a lot of guys who can handle the ball.  I'd still flip a coin on bender or simmons right now though.  We don't know who is michael jordan yet.  People took Sam Bowie ahead of Michael Jordan.  Olajuwan turned out alright. Jordan was a super special talent who took time to shoot it.  I don't see the same fluidity in simmons game as jordan though. I also dont see sam bowie in him either.  I think this draft is very good and Simmons is the most sure thing.

Isaiah, Smart, Bradley/Turner, Crowder and Simmons would beat a lot of teams in the NBA. Especially with our other guys. I like it.

Simmons is better than Wiggins or Parker that way that's  for sure.  We are at the top of the right draft potentially.  I think Simmons is a better player than those guys.

[mr. dee]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Acpii_OmL6I

Watching this video convinced me that he would do better job at protecting the rim than both KO and Sully combined. He may not have a long wingspan but athleticism off the charts for shot blocking. He have natural instinct in both sides of the floor. He won't be killed on P/Rs and is capable of defending the perimeter as well.

My only concern is his drive and mentality. He takes day offs on the defensive end. His lack of jump shot doesn't concern me much as he will be in the post under Steven's system most of the time. He is pretty much a 6'10 Rondo.

[walker834]

Yeah he isn't a great defensive player right now. He has the ability to be a tim duncan type defender without the shot blocking. His personality is hard to guage. He has some tim duncan to him but he also doesn't.

People thought Tim Duncan was too wahtever he was.  They were wrong. Sam Bowie on the other hand really was a big goof.

I feel better having Stevens as a coach.  They will make the right choice.

I think Simmons is more on the side of right than bad but that's me.

[walker834]

Simmons has some questions himself.  HE is primarily a ball handler and rebounder right now who can really take it to the rim and score occasionally in other ways.  I still like the first shot the best in this video.  He is going to be able to shoot from the outside with time. He also will be able to take people off the dribble in the halfcourt.  He has the body and speed to do it.  Physically he is pretty unlimited minus the shot blocking part which he can still sort of do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_Xl61KBWb8

He seems to play from the outside in though a lot of the time primarily.  That's just how they have him playing or whatever.

He does make plays out of the pick and roll in that video though.

He's going against Ellenson in that video and it's obvious how much faster he is. It's ridiculous but he's still playing like a guard in ways. He makes Ellenson look useless.

100 percent of the time in that vid it's the opposing teams best big man picking him up and who he is defending.  Which 80 percent of the time is Ellenson when he's in the game.

I think they lost the game but it wasn't Simmons fault. HE basically completely destroys Ellenson.

[mr. dee]

Yeah he isn't a great defensive player right now. He has the ability to be a tim duncan type defender without the shot blocking. His personality is hard to guage. He has some tim duncan to him but he also doesn't.

People thought Tim Duncan was too wahtever he was.  They were wrong. Sam Bowie on the other hand really was a big goof.

I feel better having Stevens as a coach.  They will make the right choice.

I think Simmons is more on the side of right than bad but that's me.

Sam Bowie was really skilled and talented. He showed some promise when healthy. It's just that his body gave up on him. He is the prototype version of Greg Oden and Joel Embiid who have transcendent talent wasted due to injuries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhsq2p1I68w

[walker834]

I don't disagree.  I like to see players do well. Why i hate calling a guy a bust before it even happens. Sam Bowie will be remembered as the guy taken ahead of jordan though. It's not his fault.  More just using that as an example.  We can just do our homework but there is no way to tell with 100 percent certainty.  Certain players seem to be more prone to that stuff etc but times are different too but Big men in particular especially guys like Oden and Embiid when there are red flags.   You never know though.  Paul George had red flags and was fine.  The criticisms of paul george and why he slid were academic reasons I think.

There is bust potential regardless when picking at the top.   Why tanking is silly imo.  Ainge put us in position to add more talent in a variety of ways.

Sam Bowie who knows the whole story there more than himself probably. I don't like judging guys like that.

Certain players and their style of play, habits, situations etc.  You never know though.   Red Auerbach smoked cigars until the day he died and won how many championships???  It eventually got him in the end but he did pretty well for a while there. Tony Gwynn on the other hand great ballplayer but died too soon.

Some people are jerks.  Sam Bowie never struck me as a jerk.  Most of the Bowie stuff was created by the media because he was taken ahead of Michael Jordan.

Michael Jordan was that perfect storm of media, winning, talent, drive, highlights etc.  I still think Bill Russell was better though just because of how many championships he won and team style but even he had questions coming out. That's just my opinion.

It's difficult to compare todays players to the past though because I see Simmons as a big time prospect by todays standards and talent wise but all time I don't even see him as a Scottie Pippen level talent. he doesn't have that much skill. Most players today don't. They are too video game like.

[loco_91]

Simmons has some questions himself.  HE is primarily a ball handler and rebounder right now who can really take it to the rim and score occasionally in other ways.  I still like the first shot the best in this video.  He is going to be able to shoot from the outside with time. He also will be able to take people off the dribble in the halfcourt.  He has the body and speed to do it.  Physically he is pretty unlimited minus the shot blocking part which he can still sort of do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_Xl61KBWb8

He seems to play from the outside in though a lot of the time primarily.  That's just how they have him playing or whatever.

He does make plays out of the pick and roll in that video though.

He's going against Ellenson in that video and it's obvious how much faster he is. It's ridiculous but he's still playing like a guard in ways. He makes Ellenson look useless.

100 percent of the time in that vid it's the opposing teams best big man picking him up and who he is defending.  Which 80 percent of the time is Ellenson when he's in the game.

I think they lost the game but it wasn't Simmons fault. HE basically completely destroys Ellenson.

That first shot is really impressive. There is real hope for Simmons's jumper if he converts into a righty... he clearly has  some natural touch.

[walker834]

It actually shows he has some skill besides just uber fast moves off the dribble.  Most of his other stuff is just his speed and quickness and size  He makes Ellenson look like he shouldn't be in the nba with his foot speed and is nothing more than a scrub.  Simmons is that big and fast. Skilled though?  I dont know. He is a really good passer and has really fast deceptive moves off the dribble. He seems to have good touch on his shot from what I can see and fights for rebounds. I dont know as a jump shooter though. I never see him take it. It could be really awkward right now.

He's super explosive with the dribble.  And has a lot of size.  Other than that who knows right now.

he seems like a fair to average defender in the post. Not a shot blocker.

[walker834]

He looks bigger and more explosive than john wall and lebron to me though from watching that video.  It's hard for me to compare though. I can only compare him to todays player. I look at him and a guy like pippen he is not nearly as skilled. I don't know if it's PED's or what. Better nutrition or whatever. Lack of development in other areas because of college or just players dont do that anymore because their physical ability is enough.  But he's super fast and big but not nearly the skill set.  He's not michael jordan either.

He's like Usain Bolt if he were 6'11 and a basketball player. 

Because of that I don't know how much his skillset will improve either when he can just blow by people and use his size. In the nba who knows though.  Bill Russell was a super athlete but became super skilled too.

Simmons strength to his game is taking players off hte dribble though and using his speed and size to just overpower players.