TIGER FLAWS
Simmons shows flashes of potential in loss
Sometimes, it seemed unfair. The ball would touch Ben Simmons’ hands and he’d confirm everything everyone at Barclays Center wanted to see, verifying the buzz that so often misleads. LSU’s star freshman would adjust in an instant, overwhelming or outsmarting the defense to put up 21 points, 20 rebounds, seven assists and two steals in 40 minutes Monday night against Marquette.
Sometimes, he would take a second to go from zero to 60. Other times, he looked like he was at zero or 60.
With 21.5 seconds left, the prospective No. 1 pick in the next NBA draft gave the Tigers’ their first lead of the game after hitting a running righthanded drive in the lane, but on the final possession — with LSU down one — Simmons was too unselfish with an open lane, passing twice on the gamewinning shot, as the Tigers fell 8180 in the Legends Classic.
The 19yearold often looked like a teenager — incomplete and enigmatic — but much more so looked the part of the player who will be back in Brooklyn in June, shaking hands on stage with NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
“We know the potential,” LSU coach Johnny Jones said. “We know how good Ben is and what he is capable of providing for this team. As a team, we cannot ask him to put up these kinds of numbers night in and night out.”
If needed, he could. Against the dual post presence of Henry Ellenson and Luke Fischer, Simmons still looked like he was driving on McNeese State, smoothly and effortlessly getting as close to the rim as he felt was required.
While the Brooklyn crowd was teased with what could have been — since the Nets traded away what could end up as the top pick in next year’s draft — 51 pro scouts witnessed what happens when a point guard’s handle and vision are placed in a 6foot10 frame and blended with the athleticism of an AllStar wing.
A thesaurus was necessary to stop stumbling over the same superlatives, thrown around as quickly as the nolook bounce pass he fed to Antonio Blakeney while leading a fast break or as emphatically as the righthanded dunk the southpaw threw down over Fischer.
“Obviously, he’s a very unique player, a very talented player,” Marquette coach Steve Wojciechowski said. “Because of his size and his ability to handle the ball, he’s a unique matchup.”
After the loss, Simmons knew no offensive numbers could excuse his defensive effort.
“I think I let them score too much,” he said. “It was too easy for them inside the post.”
It was how easy everything looked for him on the other end. And in time, it will only get easier.
Arizona State, N.C. State 76
Mike Krzyzewski would be proud. Former Duke point guards Steve Wojciechowski and Bobby Hurley will face off Tuesday night at Barclays Center when Marquette and Arizona State meet for the Legends Classic championship, following the Sun Devils’ semifinal win.