Anfernee Simons’ outside shooting played a major role in the Sixers’ comeback victory over the Indiana Pacers Wednesday night. The veteran guard provided a much-needed spark off the bench, finishing with 20 points in just 27 minutes while knocking down six 3-pointers.
With Philadelphia’s starting backcourt struggling to find its offense early, Simons helped keep the Sixers within striking distance throughout the first half. His impact was even more important down the stretch, as he connected on two crucial 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help Philadelphia erase a 13-point deficit.
It was Simons’ best offensive performance since the season opener against the New York Knicks, and his six makes from beyond the arc accounted for nearly half of the team's 3-pointers against Indiana.
For a Sixers team still trying to figure out how all of its offensive pieces fit together, Wednesday's performance was a reminder of just how important Simons can be.
Simons' performance against Indiana was exactly what Philadelphia envisioned when it added the combo guard this offseason. His ability to create his own shot, stretch the floor and provide instant offense off the bench gives the Sixers another dimension offensively.
The problem is that Philadelphia hasn't gotten that type of shooting consistently, and Simons isn't the only player who has struggled in that department.
The Sixers' outside shooting through the early portion of the season has been a roller coaster. One night, they're lighting it up from beyond the arc, like they did against the Milwaukee Bucks when they knocked down 19 3-pointers. Other nights, they're struggling to shoot above 30 percent from deep, even when they're generating quality looks.
Wednesday's win against Indiana was another example of that inconsistency. While Simons knocked down six of his 10 attempts from beyond the arc, the rest of the Sixers combined to shoot just 26.9 percent (7-for-26) from 3-point range. Without Simons' hot shooting, Philadelphia likely wouldn't have been in a position to complete its comeback.
That inconsistency has become one of the team's biggest offensive concerns. With Joel Embiid, LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey on the roster, Philadelphia has more than enough players who can draw attention from opposing defenses. Teams are going to send double teams, load up the paint and force the ball out of the hands of the Sixers' stars.
When that happens, the players around them have to make opponents pay, and right now, Philadelphia simply hasn't done that consistently enough.
The Sixers have gotten a significant portion of their offense from getting out in transition and using their athleticism to create scoring opportunities early in the season. However, their half-court offense still needs work, particularly when it comes to knocking down open shots.
Philadelphia has enough talent to generate quality looks, but those opportunities mean very little if the shots aren't falling. As teams become more comfortable defending the Sixers' star-studded lineup, making those open attempts will become even more important. That's where players like Simons become so valuable.
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While Simons' shooting will be a major factor in Philadelphia's offensive success, he isn't the only player the Sixers need more from beyond the arc.
VJ Edgecombe is another player who will have to become more consistent as an outside shooter.
The rookie guard has shown flashes of his offensive potential, but his 3-point shooting remains a work in progress. Through the early portion of the season, Edgecombe is shooting around 30 percent from beyond the arc on approximately six attempts per game.
Opposing defenses have already shown a willingness to leave him open, particularly in the corners, to provide additional help against Philadelphia's more established offensive threats.
For Edgecombe, those opportunities have to become shots he can consistently knock down. That doesn't mean he needs to develop into an elite 3-point shooter overnight. However, becoming a reliable catch-and-shoot threat would make a significant difference in how opposing teams defend the Sixers.
The same applies to the rest of Philadelphia's supporting cast.
When James or Maxey gets into the paint and forces the defense to collapse, the Sixers need to capitalize on the open looks that follow. When Embiid draws a double team in the post, somebody has to be ready to knock down the kickout pass. When Brown attacks a mismatch, defenses shouldn't be able to leave shooters unattended without consequences.
The talent is there to create those opportunities. The next step is consistently converting them.
One of the biggest advantages Simons provides is his ability to shoot from beyond the arc in multiple ways.
He doesn't need every opportunity to come off a perfectly executed offensive possession. He can knock down catch-and-shoot opportunities, create separation off the dribble and hit difficult shots when an offensive possession begins to break down.
That type of versatility is valuable for a team with as many offensive weapons as Philadelphia. Simons can provide scoring when the starters struggle, but he can also thrive alongside the team's stars by taking advantage of the defensive attention they command.
His six 3-pointers against Indiana demonstrated just how dangerous Philadelphia's offense can become when another player gets hot from the outside. It also highlighted something the Sixers have been missing through the opening stretch of the season: dependable perimeter shooting outside of their primary scoring options.
Philadelphia doesn't need Simons to score 20 points or knock down six 3-pointers every night. What it does need is for him to provide a consistent shooting threat that opposing defenses have to respect. If he can do that, it will create more room for everyone else to operate.
There is little doubt that Philadelphia has enough offensive talent to be one of the more dangerous teams in the Eastern Conference. However, having talented players and consistently executing as a team are two different things.
With so many new pieces playing together, there will naturally be an adjustment period as players become more comfortable with their roles. Still, the Sixers can't afford to let poor outside shooting become a season-long issue, especially when opposing defenses are willing to sacrifice open perimeter looks to contain their stars.
Simons gave Philadelphia exactly what it needed against Indiana, but the Sixers will need that kind of reliability from their supporting cast more consistently if they hope to make a deep playoff run and compete for a championship.
The question isn't whether Philadelphia has enough talent to create scoring opportunities. It's whether the Sixers can consistently capitalize on them when it matters most.
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