re: Simmons had a bad game and still had a double double

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Ben Simmons just doesn't seem to want to take over a game by himself (actually, he i've seen him do it twice this year vs North Florida and Vanderbilt). Why he doesn't do that more often is puzzling.

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Agreed.

People on this board keep saying the LeBron comparisons are outrageous, but Simmons' game is exactly how LeBron played for much of his young career.

Mediocre/bad jump shooter but excellent all around player with very high basketball IQ. He will defer shots to open guys, but at times that is detrimental to LSU even if it seems to be the proper play.

I watch LeBron all the time and find myself questioning why he can't take over every night. The same can be said for Simmons. Perhaps that is what makes them such a good all-around player, but it is baffling sometimes.

Every time I see Simmons play I can't help but think about how filthy his game will be when he is surrounded by similar talent. Give him a consistent shooter and some help in the post and he'll be an all-star very quickly.

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I'm not laying the team's problems at his feet. I know it's hard to keep all the posters separate. I don't blame Bennie for us losing,

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I understand. I'm addressing many people at once, just chose you for the original reply.

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People on this board keep saying the LeBron comparisons are outrageous, but Simmons' game is exactly how LeBron played for much of his young career.

Mediocre/bad jump shooter but excellent all around player with very high basketball IQ. He will defer shots to open guys, but at times that is detrimental to LSU even if it seems to be the proper play.

I watch LeBron all the time and find myself questioning why he can't take over every night. The same can be said for Simmons. Perhaps that is what makes them such a good all-around player, but it is baffling sometimes.

Every time I see Simmons play I can't help but think about how filthy his game will be when he is surrounded by similar talent. Give him a consistent shooter and some help in the post and he'll be an all-star very quickly.

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Once again, I agree. Solid post.


To me, it seems that Victor has a strong want to take over the games, more so than Bennie. However, he is not as talented.

I think a big part of the problem is that Simmons doesn't fit this team well.
The second best player, a guy who probably would have been the team leader, is Tim Quarterman. And if you watch, he and Simmons both do a lot of the same things- control the ball out high, drive, and dish to the open man. Basically, they both play "point forward" or whatever you want to call it. Don't forget Q was the last LSU player to get a triple double.

But if you're going to play Simmons that way, you negate Quarterman, for the most part. Sometimes he can play well (and we beat Kentucky), and sometimes he looks frustrated and lost out there.

Simmons is NOT a replacement for Jarrell Martin, a big guy who can offensively take over a game down low. If we had a guy who had that sort of game, we'd be in better shape right now, as a team.

That's an interesting observation that I don't disagree with.

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This is totally fair. He could force the issue a bit more

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TAMU defended Bennie well and all the good teams will do the same which was to play a disciplined zone defense against him. That completely takes away the primary thing he's good at offensively, penetrating the lane. Until he shows the ability to be an outside threat, these well coached teams will play zone and force him to make plays on the perimeter. OU will do the same thing to Simmons too.

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Simmons can make a team much, much better, but there has to be some basic talent with which to work

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That's just it, there is talent on this team.
We have acceptable shooters, acceptable slashers and penetrators, and one solid post guy in Victor.
But the offense goes through Simmons, and he is TOO fluid and quick with the pass.
The entire opposing team knows his hype, they are watching him. If he would drive a little more, or even feint that, I think it would collapse the defense more. But he's acting like he's playing in a motion offense, moving the ball out before they move on him.
Hell, when he gets the ball in the post or in the lane, if he would only pause a second or so, with his passing ability, he should be able to easily get the ball to Victor on a lob, or hit a cutting Quarterman or even Gray. Or a pass out to a shooter. They could run this almost every play, and it would be tough to stop.

But he's got to force the defense to challenge him, and take it to the hole if they don't. Otherwise, he's just passing the ball around, and not dictating what happens.

If he wants to be the best player out there, he can't just be the next Dennis Rodman, getting 20 rebounds and 10 points in garbage layups.

Not sure if this is on him, the other players, or the coaches. And before people bash the other players or the coach, remember that superstars (and he is one) are hard to give direction to. If they choose not to listen, it's not like Jones can afford to sit him a whole lot.

Not ready for the NBA.

There is no doubt Simmons is as good as advertised. Great all around player who will go on to a great NBA career. It seems to me the great players in the past carried their teams to more wins. Chris Jackson led his team (yes with Blanton) to the tournament his freshman year. He won a lot of games on his unstoppable play that year. Shaq carried the team to the SEC title his sophomore year with little help. Now a days these high draft picks don't seem to carry their teams.