Philadelphia 76ers prized guard Ben Simmons played the game of his life on Saturday, as he torched the New Orleans Pelicans for a career-high 34 points on an outstanding 12-of-14 shooting from the field. The 23-year-old also went 1-of-1 from beyond the arc, increasing his 3-point tally to a grand total of two makes throughout the season (and his career).
There's no denying that Simmons has shown a much-improved shooting stroke of late, and after his unforgettable performance against the Pelicans, the former first overall pick shared how he is slowly settling in as a shooter.
“I'm getting more comfortable learning my spots and just adjusting,” Ben Simmons said, via ESPN. “I'm trying not to force it, trying to play the game I know how to play. Hard work pays off. Stay in the gym and keep working.”
Simmons' lack of shooting — particularly from distance — has long been identified as his biggest weakness, so kudos to him for taking in the criticism constructively. We certainly don't expect him to be joining the 3-point contest anytime soon, but his improved shooting acumen is definitely noteworthy.
Simmons is currently averaging 14.2 points (on 56.4 percent shooting), 6.7 rebounds, 8.4 assists, a career-high 2.4 steals, and 0.6 blocks in 34.0 minutes per contest. His efficiency from the line, however, still leaves a lot to be desired, with the former Rookie of the Year still hovering below the 60-percent mark from the stripe in 4.0 attempts per game.
Simmons has been pivotal in Philadelphia's strong start to the new season, and his performances have been instrumental to the Sixers amassing an impressive 16-7 record in a wide-open Eastern Conference.
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