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Trail Blazers: Simons inconsistency is the only thing holding him back

By Carson Brown

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 9: Anfernee Simons #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers drives to the basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 9, 2020 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 9: Anfernee Simons #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers drives to the basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 9, 2020 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Anfernee Simons has all the talent in the world, but his inconsistency is the thing holding him back from being a great leader on the Trail Blazers.

Over the course of this Trail Blazers season, Anfernee Simons has shown his limitless potential that has me believing he’s the future of Portland. Simons has made a major leap from his rookie campaign, but not the full leap most were expecting and the Blazers were hoping for.

When it comes down to it for Simons, he’s got every tool in the arsenal to make him deadly, but for some reason, he can’t be consistent with his play. He has moments of greatness yet times where he appears lost and I understand that consistency comes with age, however, he’s strangely streaky.

It’s an issue I knew was occurring but I didn’t realize to what extent. I took some time and broke down his offensive production over his last seventeen games in segments and found some astonishing numbers.

He succeeds for a few games in a row then takes a couple of nights off which this team can’t afford with how they are already limited for viable options of players to put on the court.

Over Simons’ last three games he’s been what’s expected from him. He’s averaging 12.6 points per game and managing to hit this mark while staying somewhat efficient. He shot 47 percent from the field in this stretch and plays at the level they need.

In the two games prior, Simons averaged just 2.5 points per outing while shooting the ball at 16.7 percent from the field. Before that, he had a three-game stretch where he was fantastic and averaged 13.6 points per game on 58 percent from the field. Are you seeing the pattern yet?

What came prior to this stretch was his most dismal period of the season. For a five-game span, Simons averaged 4.6 points per game on 26 percent shooting. He shot 9-for-34 in this time span. The fact that the Trail Blazers never know which Anfernee Simons is going to step on the court on a nightly basis is just another liability in the system that currently resides in Portland.

And then, of course, the three games he played before this stretch were well-played games for Simons. He averaged 11.7 points per game on 52 percent from the field. The reoccurring theme goes on for the entire season but I didn’t have to go all the way through the whole year to make my point.

His scoring marks being up and down wouldn’t be a major issue for other players but when it comes to Simons, all he really does for the Blazers is lead the second unit as a scorer. He struggles to play make for others and doesn’t bring an edge on defense so if he’s not showcasing his offensive arsenal, he has little to no value.

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The next step for Anfernee Simons is clear. Find a way to be consistent and the world is yours. A major portion of the Trail Blazers’ future involves Simons. He’s extremely young and I get that, but the sooner he finds a way to be consistent, the sooner Anfernee Simons will start developing into the star we all believe he will be one day.