Danny Green: Patience, limiting turnovers will help Ben Simmons end slump

CLEVELAND — As Danny Green sees it, 76ers teammate Ben Simmons is picking his spots and figuring out who he’s playing with as guys go in and out of the starting lineup.

“You know when teams are double-teaming and they have [two non-shooters in] him and Dwight [Howard] on the floor, him trying to figure out the spacing, it’s been tough,” Green said, “because Dwight is in the dunker [position]. He’s usually in the dunker.”

In the meantime, teams have been double-teaming standout power forward Tobias Harris.

» READ MORE: Examining Ben Simmons’ slump since the All-Star break

Things should change for Simmons and the Sixers on Saturday when Joel Embiid is expected to return from a left knee bone bruise. Thursday night’s contest against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse will mark the 10th game the four-time All-Star center has missed.

But Simmons’ impact has been on the decline while Embiid has been sidelined.

The three-time All-Star point guard averaged 22.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 3.0 turnovers and shot 64.7% from the field and 75% from the foul line in the nine games leading up to the All-Star break. He also averaged a plus-6.1 in 36.2 minutes per game.

In his eight games played since the All-Star break, Simmons has averaged 14.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 4.8 turnovers, shot 48.4% from the field, and 54.8% from the foul line. He averaged a plus-2.3 in 33.5 minutes.

Simmons was a nonfactor in Tuesday’s road loss to the Denver Nuggets. He had 11 points, a season-low two rebounds, three assists, two steals and three turnovers in 26:21. With the Sixers down, 88-71, Doc Rivers pulled his starters after three quarters.

Asked if Simmons, who’s been dealing left knee soreness, was healthy following that game, Rivers replied, “I think he is healthy, he’s got to play better, we all have to play better.”

Simmons acknowledged that he wasn’t playing up to his standards.

“Yeah, I mean there’s a lot going on, but I have to get my [stuff] together,” Simmons said. “We have to get back on track as a team.”

While paired with Howard, Green thinks Simmons has to find his space and make a cut to give the Sixers an outlet when teams double Harris.

» READ MORE: Sixers have a lot at stake Thursday against a Cavs team they can’t seem to beat

“Also just taking his time of not making too many fast, quick, speedy decisions,” he said, “learning how to shift gears. He goes fast. He’s very good at getting to the basket strong with his speed. But he’s got to let us get a chance to catch up with him, let the defense flatten out sometimes and just taking his time.

“So for the most part, the only thing is he’s got to be a little bit more patient with himself and with the offense and not turn the ball over.”

Other than that, Green said Simmons has been great at attacking, getting to the rim and putting the Sixers in sets.

“Hopefully, he keeps that up,” Green said, “and just fixes taking the time to be patient and not turn the ball over.”