There’s been dialogue aplenty about one of many latest Boston Celtics, Anfernee Simons. He’s definitely a trigger for confusion; the typical NBA fan is uncertain if he’s 22 years outdated or 30. Simons has seemingly been round ceaselessly, however continues to be younger. And for a 26-year-old averaging 19.9 factors and 4.5 assists per recreation on 50% from two, 38% from three, and 90% from the road over the previous 4 seasons, he was handled as wage matching as a substitute of a reputable asset. Many are confused as to why a participant like Anfernee was handled as a throw-in.
So, why is the league so down on Simons? Protection, protection, protection.
If there’s one factor individuals in NBA circles agree on, it’s that he’s a tough defender. However one key individual isn’t down on Simons’ protection: Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla. Hear from Simons himself about what his new coach is telling him.
In line with Simons, he and Mazzulla have been tied on the hip all offseason, and it reveals. Solely somebody spending an extreme period of time with Boston’s coach-philosopher says that their protection is totally as much as how badly they need it. However Simons goes to must do much more than merely need it. While you break down the defensive movie from final yr in Portland, issues are ugly.
He’s received measurements you’d need from a point-of-attack defender at 6’3” with a +4 wingspan. His athleticism is ok by NBA requirements, and also you’d suppose he may make an influence. However it’s the technical facets that do him in as a point-of-attack defender; taking dangerous angles on screens, being unable to work over screens, and struggling to contest photographs are frequent issues.
Portland had few defensive weak hyperlinks final yr, and will afford to cover Simons off the ball. However issues weren’t significantly better there. A serial ball-watcher, Simons was usually late to make his rotations and closeouts. Switches have been a big drawback. And he usually ran round like a rooster with out a head when the rotations received lengthy and sophisticated.
It was typical to see Simons being hunted, even when off the ball, with pin-down screens, curls, flares, and all kinds of actions to free shooters. Typically it was simply so simple as a dribble handoff to see if he’d confuse the swap, or a primary backdoor lower. It’s the rationale why his defensive numbers look so tough.
Regardless of having most of his 70 begins this yr come alongside Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija, two excellent defenders, Portland’s protection was a lot worse with Simons on the ground than off. In line with Cleansing the Glass, the Blazers’ protection was 2.5 factors per 100 possessions worse with Anfernee on the court docket; that’s a twenty eighth percentile mark. It’s truly an enchancment from his earlier season, the place they have been 5.3 factors per 100 worse.
Particular person numbers don’t paint a positive image both. Simons’ 0.2% block price in 2024/25 was the bottom amongst gamers to play a minimum of 2,000 minutes. For steal price, solely Bub Carrington, Keyonte George, and Devin Booker performed 2,000 minutes on the guard spots and had worse marks. His dangerous on/offs and lack of stat influence culminated in a -1.3 defensive estimated plus-minus, per Dunks and Threes. That was twelfth percentile amongst all defenders. One way or the other this was an enchancment on final season, the place Simons’ -2.8 D-EPM was the worst mark within the league.
There are components to think about right here. When Simons was drafted, Neil Olshey was the GM and Terry Stotts was the top coach. Now Chauncey Billups is on the helm, trying to instill a defense-first ethos, and Joe Cronin makes the entrance workplace calls. It’s not loopy to imagine that Simons might have seen the writing on the wall, and his effort suffered because of this — troublesome to carry out nicely in a job when you understand you’re going to be fired.
Simons can also be heading right into a contract yr, hoping to hit free company subsequent yr at 27 on the heels of a wonderful all-around season. As soon as once more surrounded by good defenders, his task issue will probably be low. An uptick in focus and defensive method may produce satisfactory outcomes that justify his presence on the ground.
Maybe Joe Mazzulla’s philosophy has rubbed off on Simons this offseason, and he’s able to compete defensively. However it’s remarkable to see a participant bounce from a bottom-tier defender to a great one, not to mention common. When judging Simons’ protection this season, be sure you go into your judgments with the right expectations. That means, you’ll by no means be upset.
