Anfernee Simons Is Only a 21 Year-Old

Because dunk contests are purely about jumping, while getting to the rim requires a wider breadth of skills. Vision, ball-handling, craftiness (change of pace, for example), lateral quickness and often strength to finish over or through contact.

 

He won a dunk contest, what more you want? We finally have a 3 & D(unk) player.

 

ok. That makes sense...thanks!

 

Metrics schmetrics. Pretty pointless for someone as raw as Simons coming straight outta high school.

 

easy. was reveled shortly after trade to Minnesota and they tried to get additional draft pic, accusing blazers of knowingly trading damaged goods IIRC. may have required additional surgery after signing with wizards that part i don't remember.

 

Not completely pointless as some of those players were 1-and-done players who are of similar age. Hopefully however, games like last night will give him some confidence and help him to develop further and fulfill some of that potential.

 

It takes only one elite skill or trait to stick in the NBA.

Simons has two. Top 10 in 3pt %, and freakish athleticism.

There’s no reason he can’t be a bigger and more athletic Seth Curry as he continues to develop his game.

27/4/4 last night shows all-around promise.

 

So let's fire the coach and get him more playing time. Glad you agree

 

He’s 6th in 3pt% for those making at least 2 a game.

That’s more impressive considering he hasn’t had a consistent rotation spot all year, especially before Gary Klutch Jr. was traded.

Gary is 71st overall in 3pt % btw.

 

What? I think it’s time to move on from Stotts, but Ant’s put in the work to improve his game to the point Trent Jr. was unnecessary in the rotation. Stotts has put Simons in a position where he is one of the elite 3pt shooters in the NBA.

 

"Freakish athleticism" is not a skill, as Derrick Jones Jr. is amply demonstrating.

 

Once he puts it all together, he will be a 22ppg player. This is from last year.

If he continues to keep on his current trajectory, it makes it trading CJ a no-brainer with Norm at SG and more size and defense at the 3 with someone who comes in a CJ trade.

 

Athleticism is a trait. “Elite skill of trait” is what I posted. Ant is an elite skilled 3pt shooter and is elite in the trait of athleticism.

DJJ’s elite trait of athleticism is why he’s still in the NBA. He has no elite basketball skills.

 

Because all he does is shoot 3s like I said he doesn’t give you anything else. Which is fine but here we are hyping the shit out of him for no reason

 

No, Olshey is why DJJ is still in the NBA.

 

Hitting 40% of your threes AND being a volume three point shooter will make you valuable no matter how much you suck at other aspects of the game. Just means you'll get pulled more when you aren't shooting well.

I'm still not sure what to make of Ant. At this point he's still pretty much a one trick pony, but it's probably the best kind of one-trick pony you could ask for. His defense on the season has been embarrassingly bad, but he's made some progress in the last few games. Don't know if that's real progression or sample size, but will wait and see. Since Neil won't dream of trading him anyways, I'm intrigued to see what he'll become.

 

It's just so weird to be THAT athletic, but not really be able to get to the rim.

 

I think Anfernee's problems are mental. That doesn't mean they're minor, of course. He hasn't got a great innate BBIQ and he gets down on himself very easily. If he was given free rein and a coach whose sole goal was to develop him, he could be a dynamic offensive player, maybe scoring in the 20s. But that team would probably suck. His instinct is to look for his own shot, but he's very obedient (I get the impression) and he's trying desperately to play a team role, but it requires him thinking too much and undercutting his instincts.
On defense he's getting GRADUALLY better (from rock bottom) but he's also super-light and gets pushed around by stray gusts of wind.

 

Contrast Anfernee with Duncan Robinson (another volume, high-accuracy 3 point shooter). Anfernee has about 10 times the natural ability, but Robinson is very smart and that has helped him become a much better defender and much more valuable (currently) NBA player.

 

He had 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals last night. He came into the NBA as raw as can be and his promise is starting to turn into results.

Most y’all are so negative. Really bizarre.

Simons is a bright spot now during a tough stretch for the team and I’m happy for him and more so, happy for the team that he’s turning into a solid player. For me, good news is nice once in a while.