Anfernee Simons
Thursday night was a good one for the Boston Celtics. They were able to knock off the Miami Heat, while getting the best performance of the season from their explosive sixth man. Jaylen Brown has often led the team in scoring this season, but that was not the case in this one.
Anfernee Simons had four 40-point games during his time with the Portland Trail Blazers. His 39 points tonight are his highest as a Celtic, and fifth-most ever.
Simons has been rumored to be a trade candidate throughout his year here as his contract is expiring, but he sure quelled the noise with his effort in this contest.
This is a player that was a 25-point scorer in Portland previously, and can light up an opposing defense on any given night. 39 off the bench just one day after Brice Sensabaugh scored 43 off the pine is certainly something.
Read on for some key takeaways from Simons big performance.
Three Major Takeaways from Anfernee Simons’ Big Night
The Celtics found it very difficult to take Anfernee Simons off the court on Thursday night. He has been the third guard behind Payton Pritchard and Derrick White throughout the campaign. With Pritchard (1-4 FG, -20) having an off-night, the veteran took full advantage of his opportunity.
Simons finished second on the team with 34 minutes on the floor, and put up 28 shot attempts. He made seven of 16 threes, and 13 of those 28 shots overall. He was not shy, finishing with that season-high of 39 points.
There are a few big takeaways as a result of Simons having a night like this. The first, is that Boston may want to hold on to the volume-scoring guard. His expiring $27 million salary could net some serious assets, but the potential of pairing him with a healthy Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown may be hard to resist.
The second, is that Simons makes Boston a legitimate playoff threat. This is not something that wasn’t known to the fans of the team, but now the whole league is on notice. Payton Pritchard was the sixth man when the team won their last title, so having a big playmaking guard to come off the pine may be what it takes to go to the next level.
The third and most important takeaway here, is that Simons is a winning player. He spent seven years in Portland, and never won a playoff series. He hasn’t made it there in five years. The version of the Celtics being seen right now, is the best squad he has ever played on. He has contributed to winning in a major way, and that is not something that can be ignored.
This is a team that other squads in the Eastern Conference need to be weary of.
Anfernee Simons Just The Latest Celtics Success Story
Of course, Anfernee Simons is no stranger to big performances. This season has been a step back from his production of year’s past since he moved back to a reserve role. But, he has delivered in a massive way.
Young rookie Hugo Gonzalez has had some major moments. Luka Garza is reviving his career as the primary backup center for the Celtics. Jordan Walsh is finally getting a rotational chance, and making the most of it.
Competition breeds competition, and it’s clear that most of the rotational pieces for Boston this season have been ready for their first chance in the spotlight.
Simons and company are currently tied (as of 10:25 PM on January 15th) for second in the East with the Knicks. Defying all the expectations, one game at a time.