In a meeting with Ben Simmons and his parents before the NBA season, Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown threatened to bench the Australian if he didn't start shooting three-pointers.
The Australian's reluctance to shoot from beyond the arc has been a longstanding issue for the two-time All-Star, yet most were of the belief the 76ers were willing to live with his lack of shooting because of his robust defence and superior ball-handling skills.
https://twitter.com/AroundtheHorn/status/1252681007502897156?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwBut an ESPN report has lifted the lid on the immense pressure the Aussie is facing from within Philadelphia.
The report states "the front office and some of the ownership wanted" Brown to follow through on the bench threat.
"I told Ben, 'If you aren't willing to shoot, then do I just bench you? Because I can do that,'" the 76ers coach told veteran NBA writer Jackie MacMullan.
"We could have gone that route or continue to coach him as it relates to spacing. We worked on the ability to use it as a choice to shoot the three, catch and go, get in the paint, or find someone else.
"This was all discussed. I opted to take this path. I think only down the road will we be able to truly assess if it was the right one. In the meantime, he's a two-time All-Star, a kid that's gone from a college 4 to an NBA point guard. His story is a pretty darn good one."
Simmons is quoted in the piece and tells MacMullan he wants to develop his shot without having to hurt his shooting percentages.
"I know it's going to come," Simmons says. "It's a matter of me being comfortable doing it. Some of that is getting the reps in. I can take a hook shot from the elbow, because I've done it so many times, I'm confident it will go in. It's second nature.
"With threes, it's never been like that. I've got to make it a point of emphasis. I could be one of those guys shooting 30 per cent right now. But I'd rather be one of those guys shooting 40 per cent."
The coronavirus pandemic forced the NBA to suspend the season indefinitely on March 11 when Utah Jazz centre Rudy Gobert tested positive.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told reporters last week he could not say if the season will re-start, or whether it would be abandoned.
The league is waiting for more data and direction from health experts and are open to finishing the season later in the year - beyond the traditional June dates for the NBA Finals.
The break could be a positive for Simmons and the 76ers, allowing them to regroup.
The team, a favourite to make the championship series, had dropped to sixth in the Eastern Conference and were woeful on the road winning just 10 of 34 away games.
Simmons' injury also gave him the added benefit, per NBA rules, of being allowed to visit the Sixers' practice facility for treatment during the coronavirus lockdown.
ESPN reported Simmons had undergone water rehab, training on a weightless treadmill and was participating in a shooting and a regulated weight-training program.
He also ordered a basketball hoop online for the driveway of his new New Jersey home and has been getting up shots.
"He's feeling strong," a member of Simmons' camp said.
"The original restrictions were very limiting, but all of them have been removed.
"He would probably need another scan, so the doctors could officially clear him, but there's been no setbacks.
"He's dying to get out there."
-with AAP
from WWOS http://wwos.nine.com.au/basketball/nba-philadelphia-76ers-threaten-bench-ben-simmons-three-point-shooting/1a5c159a-4904-4d8e-9f15-65f5897fb460
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