Kid- Last week, you had the Celts shopping Jaylen and thought Simmons was a good value.
We disagreed.
Where are you today?
Carlos-I can't see Philly giving Simmons away. At least yet. If he can clear his head of shooting fears, he can be still be a star. So fix first is probably the smartest path to take. A combo of shrink's couch and shooting coach may cure his ills. And be cheaper and smarter than shit-canning the guy.
But before he can get on the shrink's couch, Doc will have to back-up the bus that he drove over the kid.
Daryl Morey got some thinking to do.
But if a trade is decided, and it might be given Doc's comments, IMO someone will take a shot they can fix him and trade 80-90 cents on the dollar to try. But he's still cashing huge checks for the next 4 years.
Simmons is CLEARLY flawed, but he is not a bum. He had like what, 13 assists and 7 boards, and surely had something to do with Young's poor shooting game. He is an elite defender and has tremendous size and athleticism.
But the end game difference between the relative attitudes and tenacity of Ben and Trae surely speaks to a level of confidence and tenacity that is strangely missing from Ben and abundant in Trae.
One also has to wonder about the relative level of coaching Doc and Nate conferred on their PGs.
Trae still tends to be kind of fast and loose with the ball, but under Nate he was much more conscious of getting his team mates involved, and more focused on facilitating.
Then at game's end, despite stinking up the joint as a shooter [some credit to Ben, no?], Trae still notched significant assists, and was a threat who needed to be guarded.
That parking lot three at game's end is illustrative of Trae's confidence and aggression. Like our own RJ, he has NO REAR VIEW MIRROR, and is always looking to make the next big play. I mean, Trae was 5-23, so Simmons defense amounted to something, although I'm not sure if he was the primary defender.
Hawks beat Philly without 6'8" starting SF DeAndre Hunter [who gave Julius FITS in the first round], Cam Reddish or an ambulatory Bogdonavich.
Again, as per Facil, I KNOW as Knicks fans, we are supposed to disdain Ice Trae, but I LOVE HIM. A worthy adversary, who under Nate's tutelage, as evolved from a flash in the pan one man team, to a real LEADER.
PS: How about dem SUNS? Cameron Payne holding the fort while CP3 passes through the protocols, DeAndre, Mikal, and FUCKING DEVIN BOOKER, who looked like the second coming of JERRY WEST out there. Great duel with Paul George, speaking of "chokers" who has risen to the challenge with Kawhi out of action. This series could easily go seven, because the Clips have got no quit in them.
PPS: Wouldn't a Suns-Hawks Finals be a MF?
PPPS: I share the schadenfreude regarding the fucking Lakers.
PPPPS: Here's a thought. Embid at Center. Tobias at PF. Simmons at SF. And get yourself a PG. Simmons will NEVER BE MAGIC JOHNSON, but there is no reason he could not be Draymond Green. Well, there are several reasons, mostly psychic, but the talent and size is there.