Defensive POY - Justin Simon

Still think Simon has a shot at the NBA as a 2/3 if he can refine his offensive game away from the basket but inside the line.

We're getting crazy now. Simon is a good college player but man he is not even on the right planet for the NBA

As you should be. How many 4/3s in the NBA are 6'5 and can't shoot? What could Simon do better at those positions than Dom Pointer who never got a shot in the NBA?

Simon is a better defender and a bigger guy. Pointer wasn’t backing people down. Pointer was more skilled with the ball though.

Simon is a better defender and a bigger guy.

Neither one of these is true.

Pointer wasn’t backing people down. Pointer was more skilled with the ball though.

Simon is making less than 50% of his 2s. He isn't really lighting the world on fire backing people down.

Simon could hold his own defensively against bench/rotation perimeter guys in the NBA but there's not one 4 in the NBA that Simon could guard. There's not one player at any position in the NBA that Simon can score against with even a little bit of efficiency.

Neither one of these is true.

Simon is making less than 50% of his 2s. He isn't really lighting the world on fire backing people down.

Simon could hold his own defensively against bench/rotation perimeter guys in the NBA but there's not one 4 in the NBA that Simon could guard. There's not one player at any position in the NBA that Simon can score against with even a little bit of efficiency.

Not calling him an nba player in the least but the way the nba is going there are 3s and stretch 4s that don’t physically overwhelm him. Jayson Tatum is a stud and a future multiple time all star but he gets minutes at the 4 and isn’t someone that Simon couldn’t handle physically. Simon is about the biggest 6’5 dude I’ve ever seen in terms of range and length. I don’t see a difference between the average 6’7 player and Simon physically.

Other than Simon we don’t have a great individual defender yet we have the best on-ball defense and help defense we’ve had since Jarvis (not including the Dunlap zone) by a  f*cking mile.

Some of these handoffs are just ridiculous. The attention to detail is very impressive. There was a switch back tonight from Figueroa and Keita that was so seamless it was crazy.

Yesterday was the best team defensive game they played all year. It only goes to show that if we play good defense, no reason we should have ever lose to DePaul.

For the most part our help defense has been atrocious all year. If you watch whenever the offensive player cuts through the lane going from strong side to weak you will often see our defensive player chasing him with his head turned. You can’t help if your not looking at the ball, that’s coaching.

As you should be. How many 4/3s in the NBA are 6'5 and can't shoot? What could Simon do better at those positions than Dom Pointer who never got a shot in the NBA?

Dom Pointer weighed 196 as a senior. Simon weighed 215 as a soph. Simon has a ridiculous wingspan too...that of some 6’9 players. Dom had a normal wingspan.

Also, Dom was not as good of a defender as Simon.

I think Simon could make the league at 235 lbs after a few years in g-league or abroad developing a respectable shot—like PJ Tucker. Tucker plays the 4 and some 3 at 6’5.

Do I think Simon will become that player? No. Do I think he has the potential to? Yes, absolutely.

Yesterday was the best team defensive game they played all year. It only goes to show that if we play good defense, no reason we should have ever lose to DePaul.

For the most part our help defense has been atrocious all year.

This is patently false. Watch a Norm or Lavin game. We never filled the lane to stop a drive. Never. It was either some wild block attempt or a layup/dunk.

I am shocked by the attention to detail to be honest. I call it like I see it. I have a huge problem with the offensive rebounding philosophy. But the staff has been tremendous with this group defensively given what they have.

there's not one 4 in the NBA that Simon could guard.

What a ridiculous statement. Have you watched an NBA game the last 6-8 years? Do you see who is playing the four these days? Plenty of SFs and strong wings get time at the four. It’s not like he’d be guarding Charles Oakley.

We're getting crazy now. Simon is a good college player but man he is not even on the right planet for the NBA

Hahaha.  You dont think his grandma set shot would translate to the nba?

Listen, Simon hustled, scrapped and willed his way to a good game last night.  But he still didnt hit even 50% from the field.

The fact is a guard needs to shoot the ball at this level.  A smart team will go gage on us and not even guard simon on the perimeter. 

But we do not have many talented players and will have to make due.

We will steamroll marqutte tonight and then its get real around here.

Go Johnnies!!!

Dom Pointer weighed 196 as a senior. Simon weighed 215 as a soph. Simon has a ridiculous wingspan too...that of some 6’9 players. Dom had a normal wingspan.

Also, Dom was not as good of a defender as Simon.

I think Simon could make the league at 235 lbs after a few years in g-league or abroad developing a respectable shot—like PJ Tucker. Tucker plays the 4 and some 3 at 6’5.

Do I think Simon will become that player? No. Do I think he has the potential to? Yes, absolutely.

Pointer had far better block and steal rates than Simon. Was also a far better rebounder on both ends. Simon's defensive ability is really shown against smaller guys like Howard and Powell. Simon is long enough to bother them while being quick enough to keep up with them.

This is patently false. Watch a Norm or Lavin game. We never filled the lane to stop a drive. Never. It was either some wild block attempt or a layup/dunk.

I am shocked by the attention to detail to be honest. I call it like I see it. I have a huge problem with the offensive rebounding philosophy. But the staff has been tremendous with this group defensively given what they have.

What’s false? This is what they do on defense. If they were as good as you believe they wouldn’t be ranked 193 in points allowed.

What’s false? This is what they do on defense. If they were as good as you believe they wouldn’t be ranked 193 in points allowed.

Our tallest starter is 6’7!!!! Are you kidding?

What a ridiculous statement. Have you watched an NBA game the last 6-8 years? Do you see who is playing the four these days? Plenty of SFs and strong wings get time at the four. It’s not like he’d be guarding Charles Oakley.

The point is there are plenty of guys on the NBA radar that can do what Simon does way better than Simon. Theo Pinson is a similar player to Simon in terms of style but is WAY better than him at virtually everything, yet he will be lucky if he ever becomes an end-of-bench guy on an NBA roster

Pointer had far better block and steal rates than Simon. Was also a far better rebounder on both ends. Simon's defensive ability is really shown against smaller guys like Howard and Powell. Simon is long enough to bother them while being quick enough to keep up with them.

Simon better at defending bigger players. That’s his value. He looked better on Marvin Bagley and Jessie Govan than Owens. He is our best post defender.

Simon better at defending bigger players. That’s his value. He looked better on Marvin Bagley and Jessie Govan than Owens. He is our best post defender.

Just because we don't have a true big that can guard other team's bigs doesn't mean Simon can guard 4s in the NBA

The point is there are plenty of guys on the NBA radar that can do what Simon does way better than Simon. Theo Pinson is a similar player to Simon in terms of style but is WAY better than him at virtually everything, yet he will be lucky if he ever becomes an end-of-bench guy on an NBA roster

Theo Pinson is in the NBA right now averaging 12.5 mpg. He’s also just 218 lbs.

Simon would have to be 230 and he has the frame to get there.

His offense is awful. I don’t think he he ever makes the transformation in his game to get there. Why are you arguing this with me?

I have to defend myself against the Carmine’s who want me to apologizes for admitting Simon has any flaws and also against the people who are mad I think he has strengths. This is so bizarre.

Just because we don't have a true big that can guard other team's bigs doesn't mean Simon can guard 4s in the NBA

Yeah, that was my argument 🙄

Simon is powerful and athletic. He has a very strong base. He has freakishly long arms. You can’t go through him or around him as his long arms make him tough to shoot over even at 6’5. He can switch on anyone. I’d rather get Tatum on a true PF than have him defended by someone like Simon.

His technique is not 100% there yet. 

Pointer had far better block and steal rates than Simon. Was also a far better rebounder on both ends. Simon's defensive ability is really shown against smaller guys like Howard and Powell. Simon is long enough to bother them while being quick enough to keep up with them.

My claim he was a better defender was, of course, subjective. The size comment was not.

I’m not sure comparing block/steal rates in a vacuum is a good methodology, being the defensive schemes are different. Not to mention Simon’s steal rate last year was better than any of Dom’s and he has next year to beat his career average. Meanwhile, I like watching big blocks but I think it’s an overrated stat.

Dom had an amazing senior year where he turned himself into a prospect whereas Simon has some things to correct and has already shown up on draft boards for next year.

Cleveland was stupid, Pointer, with his energy, would have been a great role player with James. Simon showed me that he is a tough player and learns. Look at his foul shooting. At the beginning of the season he had a hitch in his fouls shooting. Through what have been a lot of practice hours he now has a smooth foul shot. Last year he turned the team around by being the one guard with Ponds being the two. This year Ponds, as the one at Duke, put the team in the wrong direction. Ponds is a real NBA talent but he needs help and Simon is right there for him.   

Simon is an AWFUL guard. The single biggest weakness of this team is a lack of a competent second ball-handler. I’ve been ridiculed for saying that I think Simon has NBA potential as a 4/3.

It is very difficult to win when you have two guys like Simon and Clark playing unintelligently. Last night both guys played their positions. Clark played almost possessed and bodied up and defended. Simon ran the baseline, cut, and posted up. His drives were 0 or 1 dribble and all legs. He took two bad shots—one from three and that one he got wedged between the rim and backboard. That is playing within his abilities.

I’m not sure how much more clear I can be on this? Post up Simon all night. Get him off the perimeter. Look at how Gage killed DePaul. I’d happily led that kid go for 35. That’s what good coaches do to us with Simon. We beat that by posting him.

Yeah, Mrs. A pulls the same crap with me all the time. "Carmine, your ok when you're not drinking like an Irish sailor on leave in New Orleans, wasting all the kids college money on hookers, college basketball betting and cocaine and are earning money and doing lot's of household chores and yard work."

Like me, Garfunkel is not perfect. He's both good and bad. Take it or leave it he was ballin yesterday on the biggest stage at the most critical time.

In the end, Carmine Mfp's always prevail. ie see Phil Greene.