Anfernee Simons was supposed to give the 76ers a fix for one of their most nagging issues. Instead, the early returns have only dragged that problem back into the spotlight.
Philadelphia brought in Simons in free agency expecting him to help spark a bench that has long struggled to produce. Through four games, though, the combo guard has looked nothing like the scoring jolt the front office had in mind. The 76ers are now sitting dead last in the league in bench scoring at 17.5 points per game, and the gap between them and 29th place is 7.5 points - more than the difference between fifth and 16th.
Simons is a big reason why. After a sharp debut, his shot has fallen off hard.
In his first four games, Simons is averaging 6 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 25.8 percent from the field and 23.8 percent from three. That rough stretch stands in stark contrast to his season opener against the Knicks, when he put up 13 points, went 5 of 10 overall, and knocked down three of his eight attempts from deep.
There are some obvious factors at play. Simons did not get any preseason reps, and that may be catching up with him now. He also seems to be adjusting to a different offensive role, one that has shifted him closer to an off-ball job than the one he’s used to.
Still, the 76ers did not bring him in to re-create the same bench scoring headache they already had. If Simons can’t get back to being a reliable microwave scorer, Philadelphia could be in trouble. For now, the team is leaning on its defense and clutch shot-making to get wins, but that formula won’t carry them forever without more scoring behind the starting group.
That’s why the 76ers need Simons’ cold spell to end quickly. His shooting and second-unit firepower are supposed to be key pieces of the roster’s structure, not optional extras. If they don’t return soon, the team’s depth issue could become more than just a short-term annoyance.
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Sixers Could Catch Pacers At The Perfect Time Wednesday
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Still, the timing could matter. Indiana arrives with its own injury concerns, and the Pacers have several players on the report, including some key names who are either out or in question for the matchup. For a Sixers team trying to stabilize itself, this is the kind of spot where getting Embiid back can change the feel of the night quickly, even if the full picture on the other side is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
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Bonas case is built less on scoring than on the traits Philadelphia needs most when Embiid sits: activity, rim protection and work on the glass. The competition for backup center minutes is still shaped by who is available, but Bona has clearly put himself in position to be the primary option off the bench. For a team trying to preserve Embiid while staying solid in the frontcourt, that is no small development. [Read more 🡒]
Why The Nets Wanted No Part Of Jaylen Brown
Before Jaylen Brown ever got to Philadelphia, the Nets apparently had a chance to bring him to Brooklyn and passed. According to league insider Brian Lewis, Boston floated Brown in trade talks, but Brooklyn declined in large part because of his close relationship with Kyrie Irving, a connection the organization apparently did not want to revisit after the turbulence of Irvings run there.
For the Sixers, the backstory is part of the larger appeal of landing a player who has settled in and produced right away. Brown is performing well this season, and while the Brooklyn angle is mostly a what-if now, it helps explain why his arrival in Philadelphia mattered beyond the normal trade chatter. The Nets may have had their reasons for staying away, but the Sixers are the ones benefiting from what they saw as a clean fit. [Read more 🡒]