NBA Draft Watch 2016: Who Won Matchup Between Ben Simmons vs. Henry Ellenson?
Louisiana State University's Ben Simmons and Marquette's Henry Ellenson—two of the premier NBA prospects in the country—faced off in Brooklyn Monday night in what should end up being one of the more heavily scouted games of the season.
And neither freshman disappointed, both putting up big numbers during a matchup that went down to the wire. Scouts were even lucky enough to see Simmons and Ellenson guard each other for much of the game.
I ultimately broke down where each player shined and where each struggled during the Golden Eagles' 81-80 upset victory.
The Good
Simmons' Transition Game
You could have put together an entire mixtape from this one game alone highlighting Simmons' prowess in transition.
Throughout the night, he created quality scoring opportunities by initiating the break and beating Marquette's defense down the floor before it could set. Anytime he grabbed a defensive board, Simmons was off.
He opened the night with a beautiful thread-the-needle bounce pass to a cutter in the open floor and then dropped jaws with a five-second coast-to-coast take that ended in a thunderous right-handed slam. Simmons went the distance again for a big layup late in the game.
Down eight points with four minutes left, he pushed the ball and made what's likely to be an underappreciated setup pass to Brandon Sampson for a three-point make.
Simmons' ability to turn defensive rebounds into open shots and easy buckets is ultimately one of his major selling points as a prospect.
Ellenson's Shooting Touch, Face-up Scoring
The first field goal of the game came from Ellenson, who faced up Simmons in isolation and buried a mid-range jumper right over him.
Ellenson opened the second half by drilling a three-pointer with Simmons practically in his grill, showing confidence and no hesitation. He later sunk a second three off a drive-and-kick and then came right back down the floor to post up Simmons and hit another 15-footer (over Simmons) before the double-team could arrive.
You got the impression Ellenson's jumper will eventually become a reliable weapon in the arsenal, given his touch, as well as the fact he isn't the most explosive player off the bounce. All together, he finished 4-of-7 on jump shots.
Simmons' Passing
Simmons should have had more than seven assists, considering Sampson and Antonio Blakeney combined to shoot 2-of-13 from deep. His signature passing and playmaking were on display throughout the evening. He showed off his well-documented vision in the drive-and-kick game—both in transition and the half court—often finding open shooters or finishers.
Two of his dimes came off standstill dishes in the half court—the first was a bounce pass to a backdoor cutter and the second a beautiful lob for an alley-oop. With the game slowed down, we also saw Simmons break down Marquette's defense with penetration and then set the table for teammates who just struggled to convert open shots and contested ones inside.
Simmons' Rebounding
Simmons out-rebounded Ellenson 20-11, having grabbed six boards on the offensive glass. One of them was a big one down the stretch that saw Simmons win a 50-50 ball from Ellenson, who then committed his fourth foul with just under three minutes left of a six-point game.
Roughly one minute later, Simmons showcased both bounce and effort by totaling three offensive rebounds on one possession before drawing another foul.
Simmons was active and aggressive all night going for loose balls around the basket. He might not pull in 20 rebounds often as a freshman, but his ability to put pressure on the glass is clearly a strength that should hold legit value at the next level.
The Bad
Ellenson's Post Game
He often drew double-teams the second he got a post touch. Still, Ellenson had trouble finding ways to create good looks with his back to the basket—something he'll need to do in the pros as a scoring big man that lacks great quickness.
Knowing help would come, he rushed and missed a hook shot early. Ellenson missed another one not too long after—a shot he chose to take despite having room to attack the basket and draw contact.
He did make one nice kick-out while doubled to an open three-point shooter, but he also followed it with a panic-stricken turnover on a weak pass he unsuccessfully tried to force cross-court.
A few times, Ellenson failed to seal off and gain position on Simmons, which made Marquette's guards look him off. Overall, he just didn't make any real strong finishes or positive plays from the post.
Simmons' Perimeter Scoring
Ellenson and Marquette's defenders played a good three feet off Simmons around the arc, considering he hasn't made a jumper this season. He missed the only one he took against Marquette off a flash, catch and release from the elbow.
Simmons ultimately passed on open jumpers the entire game, including one on the final play with LSU down a point.
On two straight possessions in the second half, Simmons tried to attack a sagging Ellenson, but he was ultimately forced into difficult off-balance runners, both resulting in misses.
He did make a one-hander off one foot late in the contest, but his lack of comfort, confidence and interest in taking jumpers will certainly be discussed in NBA circles. Assuming Simmons spends a lot of time during his career on the perimeter, he'll eventually have to make defenders pay for dropping back.
Ellenson's Foul Trouble
Ellenson picked up two fouls in seven minutes to start the game, limiting his time in the first half. Foul No. 1 came after Simmons beat Ellenson for position in the post. His second was on offense off a careless drive into a defender who was just waiting to get run over.
Ellenson's third was questionable, but not the last two. He hit Simmons for his fourth after losing a battle under the boards. His fifth came in the closing minutes while handling the ball on the perimeter. Simmons beat him to the spot and ultimately forced Ellenson to push off.
Simmons versus Ellenson: Who Won the Matchup?
| Minutes | FGM-A | Points | Rebounds | Assists | 3PTM-A | FTM-A | TO | |
| Simmons | 40 | 6-of-14 | 21 | 20 | 7 | 0-of-0 | 9-of-11 | 3 |
| Ellenson | 28 | 6-of-11 | 16 | 11 | 2 | 2-of-2 | 2-of-4 | 4 |
Ellenson will surely take the double-double and win, but he didn't quite open eyes the way Simmons did.
Simmons finished with 21 points, 20 rebounds and seven assists, having generated free points in transition, both as a scorer and as a passer, and controlled the boards.
Simmons' jumper—or lack thereof—will surely be a topic of conversation among scouts, but it was encouraging to see him make nine of 11 free throws.
Meanwhile, his ball-handling and floor game for a physical, 6'10" big was just extraordinary.
Ellenson was also quite impressive, and if only he stayed on the floor a bit longer, he could have made an even bigger impact on the game. His showing against LSU should certainly help keep the lottery buzz alive.
Still, even with the loss, this was Simmons' night. He might take some public criticism for passing up the final shot, but overall, during a year in which there aren't any other can't-miss prospects, this was a performance that could have only strengthened Simmons' case as the best in the country.
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