Fansided

20 bold predictions for the NBA’s second half

By Luke Dahlgren

Feb 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Magic Johnson (left) speaks during a tribute to Western Conference forward Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers (right) prior to the start of the NBA All Star Game at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Magic Johnson (left) speaks during a tribute to Western Conference forward Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers (right) prior to the start of the NBA All Star Game at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 26, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) reacts as the ball falls through the basket during the first half of a game against the Georgia Bulldogs at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 26, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) reacts as the ball falls through the basket during the first half of a game against the Georgia Bulldogs at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Ben Simmons will not be the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft

This is not to say that Ben Simmons shouldn’t be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. The LSU point forward’s combination of size, handles, rebounding, passing and intelligence make it conceivable that he ends up as the best talent of the upcoming draft.

But, there are enough holes in his game to force a GM to talk himself out of picking Simmons. Most noticeable of Simmons’ weaknesses is his outside shooting. Ben Simmons has struggled to connect on perimeter shots consistently for the LSU Tigers, and his size advantage on the perimeter is mitigated by how poorly he shoots from distance.

On top of this, Simmons has struggled as a defender, where he has been tasked with playing in the defensive frontcourt. He has struggled with providing help defense on penetration, and has been passive defending on pick-and-roll plays while containing the roller. On top of this, his wingspan is not large for a player of his size, listed at 7-feet from his 6-foot-10 height.

With the 16-9 LSU Tigers struggling to distinguish themselves in the SEC, Simmons might not be able to showcase his talents much in the NCAA tournament, meaning GMs won’t have as much to chose from in terms of signature performances.

Since he lacks some of the skills coveted by the premier teams (shooting and interior defense), I predict the front office at the top of the draft will talk themselves out of Simmons, instead going for Brandon Ingram out of Duke. Ingram’s length and shooting make him an asset to any budding contender, and by virtue of more exposure, he could leapfrog Simmons as the number one pick.

Next: LeBron's MVP chances

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