re: Ben Simmons measures at 6'10" at Nike Hoops Summit

The thing about "shorter" guys like Anthony Davis (and post defender shot-blockers like Mickey Jordan) is that their wingspan reaches 7'-2" +

Simmons 6-11 wingspan is not an asset, in this case.

LINK

Says AD may have grown over 6'10" and that his wingspan was reported by Pelicans as growing from 7'5.5" pre-draft to 7'7.75" before this season.

if LSU goes small and puts Simmons at the 4 that's a huge advantage for us. There's no way a "traditional" 4 can follow him around the court or guard him off the dribble. We'd be able to dictate the opposing team's lineup.


BRB have to FAP

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Dwight Howard is like 6'10 with shoes on...

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He measured up at over 6'10 in shoes at pre-draft and has grown some since he was 18. I played against him in high school.

Dude nobody has ever even thought of calling Anthony Davis short. He is tall especially for PF and he's got even longer wingspan. Have you ever watched him before? Like at all

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Dude nobody has ever even thought of calling Anthony Davis short.

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AD was "shorter" on his draft day at 6-9 (no shoes) than Ben Simmons is allegedly measured now at 6-10 (supposedly in no shoes, but will probably turn out to be an in-shoe measurement).

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He is tall especially for PF and he's got even longer wingspan.

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That's my point. Height is not as important for post defenders as wingspan. Jordan Mickey's is 7-2 and AD on Draft Day had a 7-5.5 wingspan (thus why I wrote 7-2+ for the both of them). More to the point, it's yet another factor in why Simmons is considered a SF as opposed to a PF, the post position some posters suggested he could primarily play because he is allegedly "taller" than AD .

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Have you ever watched him before? Like at all

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Have some coffee, bud. Your reading comprehension is off today. Multiple posters have replied back to me and understood the gist my post.

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I hope this was a brain fart Hand width = thumb tip to pinky tip

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Yes and it's with fingers spread.

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Unless Robinson really comes into his own and we go primarily with a big lineup with him at the 5 and Victor at the 4, I think the 4 is where Simmons will mainly play.

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On defense, sure, out of necessity. However, playing Simmons at the traditional "4" spot would be a COMPLETE waste of his talent. You could argue that he and Quarterman should be LSU's primary ball-handlers next season with their ability to create plays for themselves and others. Simmons, right now, is the type of player Jarell Martin hopes to be one day. He's a wing and you have to play him as such. LSU should be fine on offense. In fact, there's no reason they shouldn't lead the SEC in assists next year. If they don't, something is wrong.

Defense though is a HUGE concern:

1. LSU lost their assistant (Musselman) who was in-charge of putting together scouting reports and to a large extent, coordinating the defense. It was no coincidence that LSU greatly improved their defensive efficiency with him on the staff. That MUST be replaced.

2. For as good as Simmons is, he doesn't come across as a particularly strong defender when you watch him play. Sure he can improve, but that is tough adjustment for any Freshman. LSU is going to have some inexperienced frontcourt players being asked to carry the load inside on defense without the benefit of a rim-protector in Mickey. That's why the Mickey loss is so big. Without him LSU is probably a fringe top 25 team to start the year. With him they would have been a fringe top 10 team. His presence would have filled LSU's only real weakness going into next season