One of the biggest mysteries facing the Sixers to start this season was how opposing teams would match up with Ben Simmons. The challenge of guarding a 6-foot-10 point guard is an endlessly shape-shifting puzzle that requires constant consideration.
And as Brett Brown hypothesized before the season, teams have mostly elected to put their longest, quickest wing defenders on Simmons. And while that’s the correct and logical response, it only solves one part of the problem.
The real challenge for opponents lies in the trickle-down effect of that matchup. Even teams that can find a serviceable counter to Simmons often then leave a bad matchup somewhere else.