"The Celtics have already knocked out the 2nd best player in the East, Ben Simmons, the third best, Embiid, and the fourth, Giannis."
-Jason McIntyre
https://youtu.be/9ce4gNFMD0E @ 2:30
Ben Simmons is now the 2nd best player in the East. And Cowherd didnt challenge him at all. These are the people that are paid money to analyze basketball.
This reminds me of American Idol when you see someone come on and confidently sing like crap and you wonder "How do they not know that they're terrible?" And then the camera changes over to their mom and dad and friends all cheering along saying he sounds great... And then you know.
You'd think that this series would change a lot of minds, but now the narrative has changed to "he's just a rookie." Look, I won't sugar coat anything. Ben Simmons is not a functional NBA player until he can shoot from further than 3 feet from the basket. He is the worst shooter in the NBA. Either him or Andre Roberson. He's not on Magic Johnson or LeBrons passing level. Not even close. He's not even on Rondo's passing level when Rondo was a rookie. He may be 6'10", but guess what.... height in basketball is an advantage so that you can mainly shoot over people and guard people from shooting over you. If you weren't allowed to block shots, there would be a lot more Isaiah Thomases. He can't shoot, and he is chasing small guys around all game. His height is currently useless.
If the defense gets back in transition and obstructs the paint, the Sixers are playing 4 on 5. He puts up functionally useless numbers: defensive rebounds that were freebies and fake assists where he just passes the ball to someone and they create a shot. He has so much work to do to be where he's currently overrated. I think he can maybe get there in 5 years if he busts his ass. He seems like a slacker to me though.
To sum up: TJ McConnell is better than him.