Sixers All-Star Ben Simmons’ 3-point shot looks sweet, so he has no excuse to not take it | Marcus Hayes

The most significant moment of the Sixers’ 2021 season wasn’t Joel Embiid’s last-minute three-pointer that sent the Sixers into overtime in their last game before the All-Star break, a win over the Utah Jazz.

Nor was it the fact that the shot highlighted Embiid’s fifth 40-point, 10-rebound game -- a mark the other 492 players in the NBA have hit just four times this season combined.

No, the most significant moment of 2021 involved a meaningless shot at the end of a game they lost four days earlier.

With 1.9 seconds remaining in overtime, down by six points, Ben Simmons fired a three-pointer from 27 feet at a 45-degree angle. The ball arced toward the goal with perfect trajectory and excellent spin, the result of a quick, relaxed release. Then it ripped through the net with a mocking thwack.

Mocking, because that sound, repeated often enough, would help bring the Sixers their first title in 38 seasons.

Mocking, because that sound would, indirectly, ensure Embiid the NBA MVP award in the regular season and the MVP award in the NBA Finals; Simmons with a jumper would uncage a beast in Embiid.

Mocking, because Simmons won’t make that sound often enough for any of those things to happen. Because he is ashamed of the aesthetic of his jump shot.

He shouldn’t be. Not any more. Simmons has a viable three-point shot, and it’s pretty.

Simmons, a breathtaking combination of perimeter size, skill, and speed, will play in his third consecutive All-Star game Sunday despite having taken just 20 threes in those three seasons. He has made four. How he made them, we don’t know. His elbow-askew, side-spinning, line-drive offenses to the poetic art of long-range shooting didn’t just miss, they were repelled by the rim.

This has changed. His shot is ... nice. Repeatable. It can be a weapon. He should unleash it. Now.

While Simmons is in Atlanta, he shouldn’t just take a three, he should take only threes. Take threes in warmups. Take threes in the game. Paul George took 19 in 2016. Fire up 20. Send a message for the second half of the season: Come and get me. Come and guard me.

Finally.

» READ MORE: The Sixers’ Ben Simmons is dominating with his all-around game | Off the Dribble

Before Simmons nailed that three-pointer last Wednesday, he hadn’t attempted a three in more than a month. He hasn’t tried another in the two games since. So what, you say, the Sixers won both games, claimed first place in the conference, and made an argument that they’re already the East’s best team.

So what? So, this.

If Simmons doesn’t shoot in the playoffs, the Sixers won’t win in the playoffs. The Celtics and Raptors proved this in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Teams will again adjust their defenses to play a box-and-none. Simmons’ defender will collapse a step inside the three-point line where he will dare Simmons to shoot while disrupting efforts to free Embiid.

So what? So, shoot.

When Simmons’ shot looks like it did last Wednesday, there’s no need for shame. There is cause for pride. This is the fruit of three seasons of offseason labor.

This is the product of hours spent in empty gyms, no cellphones recording where Simmons shot ball after ball, trying to tuck his left elbow close enough to his left side and close enough to perpendicular so that his three middle finger pads would control the ball, not his thumb and pinkie. He’s there; at least, he was for a moment last Wednesday.

This is what happens when he doesn’t think about it. When this happens, everything changes.

Embiid finds himself covered by one overmatched defender -- because every defender, on his own, is overmatched against Embiid.

Statue shooter Danny Green gets left alone in the corner. Seth Curry gets space on the wing. Tobias Harris gets enough room to operate that he finally justifies his $180 million contract.

And Simmons, with his roadrunner first step and Brahma bull strength, finally becomes the most feared player since LeBron James at his peak. That’s what Simmons was supposed to be when he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2016. Three All-Star games, and he has still underachieved. Well, that’s what he can be now: LeBron 2.0. We’ve seen it.

» READ MORE: Overtime thriller against Jazz is a microcosm of these first-half Sixers | David Murphy

When we see it two or three times every night, only then can we talk about challenging for an Eastern Conference title. Only then will they be able to contend with the Nets’ incessant pressure. Only then will they be able to match the completeness Jrue Holiday brings to the Milwaukee Bucks. Only then will they be able to outfox coach Eric Spoelstra and Jimmy Butler and Miami.

When Simmons decides to shoot -- not if, but when -- The Process will be complete. The Sixers will have the two jewels Sam Hinkie promised Philadelphia in the depths of the tanking years.

They are so close.

They hired Doc Rivers to replace Brett Brown as coach. They hired Daryl Morey to finally legitimize the front office.

The first hurdle of 2021 was convincing Embiid to get into decent shape. Done. The second hurdle was convincing Embiid to act like an MVP. He is, playing every game, whether he’s tired, or sore, or scared. So, you’re welcome.

Embiid and Simmons already are the NBA’s best defensive combination. This team could be so good, for so long. Only one thing stands between potential and dominance.

Thwack.