re: Tweet by Ben Simmons yesterday

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You can bash the coach.
You can bash Ben.

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I'll bash the coach but not Ben

Probably so man. But my point is show the man some love while he's here. Dont have a simmons come around that often

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I hope like hell he stays. Maybe Patrick and CJJ can persuade him to come back. Im not holding my breath on it though

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There is nothing for Ben to gain by staying another year. He is much more likely to improve his game under NBA coaches than college for these reasons and in no significant order:
1. NBA coaches and front office have a vested interested in him improving (as they will be paying him lots of $$). They will also invest in a private shooting coach. Anthony Davis was an awful shooter when he first started in NBA. The Pelicans front office hooked him up with Marcel Scott (owner and bball instructor atBack 2 Basics in Nola). A short time later, AD went from 22% to almost 50% from the field. There was even an ESPN 30 min special on how broke AD's shot was. This is exactly what will happen with Ben.
2. The NBPA (player's association) practice restrictions are nowhere near the NCAA's 20 hour per week restrictions. He also doesn't have to go to class (not that he has had to go the 2nd semester).
3. NBA fits his skill set more so now and will be playing with 4 other threats. Teams have to respect all 5 players on the court. NBA has a much better flow to the game and offense (see below) which will allow Ben to show off his ability to get to rim in transition and in half court offense.
4. Half Court offense: even the worst team in the NBA will have an offense and set plays for Ben that will be scripted to help with his success. They will be scripted to also find cutters and shooters to always ensure defenses can't entirely cheat off of opposing players.

Finally, if the guy is a lock at #1, which all scouts say he is, ( and taking into account the risk of injury by staying and losing guaranteed $$) there is no legitimate reason to ask or even suggest he should stay.

If it were your child and every GM in the NBA is saying you are special and we can't wait to select you number 1, would you really say no, you should stay at LSU because your jump shot needs to be fixed? No. None of us would.

He has special talents and hope he has a long and successful career in the NBA.

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he would benefit with a another year of college , learning to shoot, playing man to man defense with his feet,blocking shots cleanly and getting hisself a quick one bounce jump hook-before the double teams come

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Yeah. Simmons is far more likely to learn this stuff from Johnny Jones than he is an NBA coaching staff. You're funny.

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He will never avg. 20 points a game in the NBA. He has the size but his jump shot needs to severly improve if he is going to have success in the NBA.

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No one is saying he doesn't need to improve his shot. What the vast majority of us are saying is that he will improve quicker with better coavhing and more time (pursuant to NBPA's less restrictive practice schedule), AND a big time contract as the number 1 pick.

I don't understand the black and white nature that this is being portrayed. College is not the only place where someone can work on their game.

I'll bet you one thing I'll bet he wishes he had a fundamentally better head coach that matches his fundamental game

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But you can't bash the love that Simmons has for LSU.

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Ben has no particular love for LSU. His love is for his godfather David Patrick. If David coached at Toledo St. culinary institute, Ben would have played there for 1 year before going #1 in the draft.

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He should love LSU one more year. Mature as a player be more NBA ready upon arrival.

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Agree, but I'm not holding my breath. I think next could be a great year for our Tigers especially if CJJ could pick up a great shot blocker, but until they change the "dreaded" 1 and Done rule, these guys will come, play a year and they're gone, and I don't blame them, however......would just like to see those with serious talent stick around for at least a couple of seasons.

Thanks Ben for choosing LSU!!! - GEAUX TIGERS!!!

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quote: NBPA's less restrictive practice schedule) he has more free time now than he will in the nba

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I don't disagree with you. But, starting at 730 am every morning (game days included) Ben will be with an assistant coach working on shooting and moves. He can't have that at LSU because of rules. He has more free time at LSU yes. But, he wil have 90% more instructional time with coaches in NBA.

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I don't understand the black and white nature that this is being portrayed. College is not the only place where someone can work on their game.

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yes, this is true, and Simmons should certainly go pro and make his millions and work on his game there.

Yes, guys can improve in the NBA. But usually that means a guy with a decent jump shot can improve it to a good one, and improve his range.

But what's so odd is that Ben is starting out having ZERO jump shot. Makes me wonder if he can ever develop a serviceable one, because you have to assume that he's already worked on it a lot as a kid. After all, his dad is a former long-time pro player, so I imagine they did a lot of work together before Ben got here.

To get to this stage of his career, with the other skills he has, and with a pro for a father and have NO jump shot and to not be able to finish at the rim left-handed... well those kinds of things are what astound me.