(You can also listen on Apple and Spotify)
Anfernee Simons saw his playing time limited to just 12 minutes as the Boston Celtics secured a win over the LA Clippers on Sunday.
The 26-year-old has been inconsistent to start the season, but at times, has provided valuable scoring off the bench. The primary issue has been how frequently the ball sticks in his hands when working in the half-court — where he leads the Celtics in average seconds per touch (4.39) and average dribbles per touch (3.94).
Joe Mazzulla has been cuthroat this season, yanking guys when they miss rebounds or when their shot isn’t falling. And while that style of coaching is clearly resonating with the roster, there is a risk of hurting players’ confidence. So, it will be interesting to see whether Simons responds or recoils at his limited playing time.
In today’s episode of the Celtics Chronicle podcast, I’m joined by Bruce Veliz (formerly of Celtics Digest) to discuss Simons’ limited minutes, where he’s struggling and why it’s important to get him going — both in terms of production and trade value.
The episode is also live on YouTube if you prefer to watch the show.
During the episode, we also touch on Derrick White and Payton Pritchard’s impressive night against the Clippers, how their roles are slightly adjusting and why that’s a good thing, and Sam Hauser’s shooting slump — where his gravity should still hold significant value.
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