Anfernee Simons looked like the complete package in Summer League

Offense

Offensive IQ

At IMG Academy, Anfernee Simons was tasked with generating his own points. Rarely did he move off the ball to get open for catch and shoot attempts.

Despite a lack of ball handlers on Portland’s Summer League team, Simons played the majority of his time at shooting guard. His movement away from the ball didn’t suggest a lack of experience doing so, though.

On this play, Grayson Allen gets tangled up with Wade Baldwin, leaving Simons wide open to float into the corner as the play described.

Instead, the rookie sees all the space down low and calls an audible. He makes eye contact with Caleb Swanigan and slices to the hoop for an easy alley-oop finish.

Lots of Blazers players like to stand around the perimeter and not take advantage of backdoor cuts or back screens when the lane is open. Seeing Simons pass up the three-point attempt for a dunk displays his understanding of the game and willingness to hunt for the easier bucket.

The rookie also made smart decisions with the ball in his hands. Over six games, he recorded five total turnovers.

Three-point shooting

Simons attempted 4.3 three-pointers per game and made 1.5 of them (34.6%). Even with the low percentage, there are some positives from his perimeter shooting in the Summer League.

Like at IMG Academy, he creates his own uncontested three-point looks without even taking a dribble. Omari Spellman gives Simons room to combat any penetration attempt, incorrectly assuming that Simons won’t pull the trigger from that far out.

Without hesitation, the Blazers rookie shoots from 30 feet and nails it to put the team ahead by 16 in the first quarter.

Taking that deep of shot exudes confidence. After seeing the three he made a minute before, it’s easy to understand why Simons felt comfortable shooting from the logo.

Like in the videos, most of his 9 made threes weren’t catch and shoot. If the Blazers plan to play him at shooting guard, he’ll need to develop this part of his perimeter game.

However, Portland could use Simons like they do CJ McCollum. Of McCollum’s 5.8 three-point attempts per game last year, 43.1% were after holding the ball for more than two seconds. He gets the pass from the point guard and uses his own shot creation abilities to find open outside looks.

Shot creating

As seen in his converted three-pointers, Simons is a shot creator. The Blazers offense runs entirely through Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, so any extra player who can alleviate pressure from them is a positive.

The rookie uses his speed, agility and vertical to create space and knock down all sorts of shots.

Simons again exposes Omari Spellman with an array of dribble moves. It played like a Mortal Kombat combo move:

• Hits A button: Get Spellman backpedaling with an explosive first step in transition.
• AB: Take a lateral step to stop momentum and lose Spellman.
• BBA: Take a big step back and gather for shot.
• AA: Drain a smooth looking midrange jumper with no one around.

By the end of the combo, Spellman was in the paint while Simons was at the three-point line.

The Blazers rookie also improvised with screens in a smart, experienced way.

After Antonius Cleveland closes down well, Simons runs a quick give-and-go with Swanigan. He explodes once the ball is back in his hands, outrunning Cleveland along the baseline for an uncontested dunk.