Joel Embiid is the most important player for the Philadelphia 76ers, but for them to unleash their true potential, Ben Simmons needs to be that X-factor. Sixers head coach Doc Rivers said so as much after the team's Game 4 defeat at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks.
Speaking to reporters a day after the shocking loss, Rivers emphasized the need for Simmons to be aggressive. Nonetheless, he clarified that he doesn't need him to shoot a lot, but instead, take the lead in playmaking and moving up the ball.
Simmons himself acknowledged after their latest loss that he must be aggressive, and Rivers couldn't agree more.
“More aggressive if he's talking about facilitating, yeah. Moving the ball up the floor with better pace. But not as far as shooting, or anything like that,” the Sixers coach shared, per Derek Bodner of The Athletic.
When Ben Simmons is taking the lead on offense and setting up his teammates to perfection, the Sixers are unstoppable. If you want proof of that, then look no further than Philly's 127-111 Game 3 win over the Hawks.
In the said contest, Simmons scored only four points in the opening half. In the second half, however, he made 18 points as he took advantage of the defense that Joel Embiid commanded. Even Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green noticed the huge change in the play of the Australian point-forward and praised him for it.
With Embiid clearly bothered by his knee injury, the Sixers need Simmons now more than ever to step up and show he is a legitimate star. He doesn't have to be an elite shooter like some would want him to be. He just needs to do the things that he has been known for.
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