[Highlight] Ben Simmons plays suffocating defense on Luka Doncic who scores the bucket anyways
I do love that in the one play both Luka and Ben complain to the ref
It’s interesting to think of a possession like this as an active negotiation with the referee, almost like two parties at a mediation or something.
That’s literally how the modern NBA functions
Divorce court
“Hey, he just did X! Are you going to call that?!”
silence
“OK, well then I’m gonna do Y”
“Hey, he just did Y! Are you going to call that?!?!”
“OK, well then-”
basically how civilisation started
Flopurabi’s Code
Does Luka ever not complain to the ref?
I like that Luka complains when he’s in street clothes. Don’t know why, but I find that the most tolerable when it comes to players yelling at refs.
true shittalkers talk shit no matter what. to anyone and everyone. doesnt matter if hes ahead or behind (suns series). doesnt matter if its a player or a ref. doesnt matter if its nba or overwatch.
luka is gonna talk his shit. and i respect him more for it than those guys who only do it a little and only when they are up
It’s painful to watch.
Hey man come on there was like one game where he didn’t complain…. In the first half
Nope
Unironically the sign of good reffing
“That was definitely a foul on one of us.”
He complained about the ridiculous contact ref was allowing, played through it and made the bucket anyways.
Reddit dorks obsession with pointing out someone “complaining to ref” is amazing
that “great defense” with 3 different possible fouls in 3 seconds…
The only good defense on the play it’s being physical and don’t get whistle.
Simmons didn’t send him to any particular weak spot, or a help defender, or force something special, just got played into the step back
i wish they’d make working the refs techable.
Isn’t Ben Simmons 6’10 ? Damn Luka is tall as shit lmao
Yeah Luka is like 6’8
Big boy
at some point I thought he was like 6’6, but yeah he’s defo 6’8
He’s noticeably taller than MJ
Yup and all the battles he had vs Kawhi who is 6’7ish, Luka looks taller
That’s because Kawhi is actually closer to 6’6… Luka was measured at 6’6 and a half barefoot. Draymond’s barefoot was 6’6 exactly if not even a little lower depending on measurement time and he is basically right next to Kawhi size.
Isn’t MJ closer to 6’4 without shoes on ?
He’s shrinking now
Yeah they say 6’4.75 ish without shoes, with he’s probably a bit above 6’5
That’s how every 6’6” person is without shoes on.
1.5-2” comes from the sole of the shoe depending on the shoe.
Nowadays probably even less, dude is over 60 and actively getting shorter as we all do
6’8 330
Wtf??
He slimmed down?????
With fat boy tendencies
Imagine if he had Ben Simmons peak physique and defensive prowess lol
Would be the goat
Ben Simmons is probably 6’9 barefoot and Luka is 6’6 ish. People tend to think NBA players are several inches taller than they actually are. Magic was 6’7 but commonly viewed as 6’9. I have to say Ben Simmons is probably one of the best perimeter movers ever for his size and is a greater size anomaly than the other ‘big’ point guards that have played the game.
Camera angle here is deceptive, whoever is closer will always look bigger.
I’ve stood next to Magic, and the dude is big. This was in the 90s when he was really bulked up. The dude was the size of a door. 
He was also extremely polite when he pushed past me. 
at least good ol magic said excuse me when he gave you the shove
he’s down to to 6-2 now, saw him last year.
Magic??? Damn age does a number
very sad and tragic 
6’7” is fucking massive though.
Like Steph at times looks kinda small on the court, but he’s still well, well above average
From what I remember during that one time in the off season where they measured everyone in their true height, Luka was measured 6’ 6 & 3⁄4 so you could just round that out to 6’7.
67 67
Yeah, what /r/Stinkwell said is wrong. It used to be true, players were measured in shoes for some reason, but like 10 years ago they forced everyone to be remeasured barefoot. Everyone lost 1-2”, but both LeBron and Porzingus actually got taller (probably because LeBron was really young and grew a bit, and KP might have been metric system or something).
The listings on BBR are accurate: Luka = 6’8”, Simmons = 6’10”.
Yeah, even with Jordan who was listed at 6’6 despite being closer to 6’4 barefoot. As for the camera angle, all will depend on the matchup tho. If Cam Thomas is being guarded by Giannis you’ll easily notice who’s the fucking giant lmaooo
Poor Ben tho, wanted him to last but can’t have it all
Idk about this. Magic wasn’t viewed as 6’9 for no reason. He was officially listed as 6’9 and commentators constantly reinforced it. On video games he’s shown as 6’9
Larry Bird was a real 6’9 and he was notably taller than Magic
Commentators reinforce all sorts of misinformation that is regurgitated throughout the NBA. People still think KD is 7 foot when he isn’t.
I’m faiiiirly sure that they measure without shoes now.
This is after his back injuries too… I know he had his issues before that but people really underestimate how much a back injury can impact you
These angles really puts his shotmaking into perspective
You’d think defenders should already expect the stepback, but it’s seamlessly part of the dribble move. There’s hardly any reaction time for it
Him taking the stepback is one of the better outcomes for most defenders tbh
True. As a defender there’s always something you concede against top notch offensive players
Yep that’s an extremely difficult shot that not many players can make. Luka just happens to be the best in the world at these shots.
If he hits you with the blow by and there isn’t someone instantly in his face he’s getting a bucket or going to the line. Or both.
That’s the thing, Luka intentionally waits until Ben drops his left foot to step back. Even if you’re anticipating it once your momentum is pulling you the opposite way you’re cooked. That’s why Luka moves so damn slow, he’s watching and waiting for the defender to disrupt their footwork.
Exactly. Simmons really saw it coming and got his hand up to contest plenty fast, but Luka already crated too much space.
It’s just near impossible to block a giant 6”8 dude doing a fadeaway.
Imagine Dirk. 7 feet tall and sticks his leg out to do the fadeaway.
tongue stickin out too, god damn freak
Not only that but you can get caught in a pump fake which likely results in a foul call.
Yeah he could tell Simmons when he was going to do it and it Simmons probably still couldn’t do much about it. This is basically as good as you can guard it.
If you bite on the step back, it turns into an easy foul anyway
What’s crazy here too is Simmons clearly reads that and goes to contest as Luka goes back and Luka still makes it.
Simmons did expect it. He had his hand up before Luka begins the shooting motion.
It’s just too much space between his separation, size and release point. Even tho it’s slow. It’s also used as a counter and knows how much space he needs off each defender
This is pure basketball. Simmons played great D. Ref allowed him to play defense.
Luka flailed and looked at the ref. Ref did nothing. Luka makes the shot anyways because he’s that great.
that soft stepback three to the left was giving the kawhi and pg clippers backshots for years
Even though this is an old highlight, fairly obvious with Simmons in a Nets jersey, it’s still one of my favorite basketball highlights not only because of the great defense but also the camera angle and quality.
The on ball defense was elite man, reminds me of the OG Anunoby defense on Luka last season where hes locking him down, Luka scores on him anyway and OG has no choice but to just laugh
https://youtu.be/19XJsmW5z9E?si=FzT8SlhFIVV1-gXo
All the games I remember of Simmons against Luka, Luka would kill team’s chances at the end being exhausted and missing 2-3-4 3’s in a row.
Fairly obvious with Luka in a Mavs jersey too lol
Seriously? I thought this was 2028 and Luka is back where he belongs !
^Don’t
Wdym don’t? It’s already happened. 2027 Luka wins the Finals with the Lakers and leaves in FA to go back to Dallas to play with Cooper Flagg and Dereck Lively and he brings AR with him off of a Kyrie salary dump. They then proceeded to run the west for 4 more years bringing 2 more rings to Dallas only suffering heartbreaking losses to the Pistons and Hawks
fairly obvious from ben simmons playing
This defensive set right here, despite Luka hitting it, carried so much copium for me that Simmons could still have potentially been something with us. Sigh.
in all of nba, Ben Simmons is probably the best defender I’ve seen vs Luka. and I’m saying that as a mavs fan
Him and Wiggins in that 2022 WCF
I think a lot of Mavs fans agree to this. It’s the closest a defender has been to consistently shutting him down.
Can i show you a highlight that I recorded when I went to a basketball game? I’m only asking because you said you like this angle and mine is kinda close to this
Post it!
Well……
My favourite part of this highlight is that when you see Luka getting mad like this you just know he is gonna hit that shot.
Playing D was never his issue
Honestly. He is still pretty serviceable for his defense alone.
Yeah he’s so clearly still an NBA caliber player but idk if he cares enough to come back
I think unfortunately his defense is a lot worse these days after his back problems. In his prime he was in the conversation for best defender in the NBA
It is but like even in 25 he was still a clear positive for a playoff team with the Clippers. If I’m a team like the Warriors who have like negative forward depth rn, I’d absolutely throw him an offer and see how he would work in a motion offence
Yeah, I loved him on the Clippers. For 10-15 MPG, he played great defense against almost every position and was a solid playmaker.
He was locking up Jokic last year with the Clippers
If his back holds up
he was 2nd in dpoy before Trae gate, coulda gotten one later on after gobert got voter fatigue and BW (before wemby)
His spine (literal) gave out
As the founding member of the Ben Simmons hater club (as a player only, just because I thought his offense was brutal when games matter) even I admit he was one of the absolute best perimeter defenders of his era
For a second there I thought you were talking about Luka and was very confused
elite offense > elite defense example #3000000000
Mostly because elite offense gets more foul calls in their favor than the other way around
I love that you say this about a clip where the defensive player gets away with at least 1 foul.
Nah, defense wins championships.
Elite Offense Luka: no rings Elite defense Simmons: 1x Bass Fishing Championship
idc what anyone says, when he was right, ben simmons was a matchup problem for luka
I think most Mavs fans agree to that. In fact, lots of us hated playing the Sixers because we had nobody to stop Embiid and they had somebody to stop Luka.
He’s far and away the best Luka defender I’ve ever seen. I also think most Mavs fans agree.
Ben in general was just a fucking ridiculous defender. Had lateral foot speed, length, vertical, good concentration, active hands, elite transition on steals, and elite forward and back speed.
The only person I ever remember him getting clearly outmatched by was Giannis.
There’s a version of Simmons that plays 15 years, has multiple DPOTY and/or 1st team All D and a championship or two.
Unfortunately that’s the alternate version of the timeline
Well. To slow Luka, anyway.
Luka is so good and such a whiney bitch boi
He and Simmons both whining to the ref mid play, good god.
I mean, he smacked Ben’s hand away.
Shai would have flopped 5 times alone in that sequence. Those in the other thread saying Luka is a bigger flopper than SGA are completely delusional
Luka literally shoots more FTA than Shai does, whines 10 times harder, and flops just as much.
That Dallas jersey sure looks good on Luka
It looks natural, like it belongs there. Lakers jersey looks like someone bought temu Luka. It looks fake.
Luka special man
This post should be much higher up.
Ben Simmons’ defense was underrated and was genuine DPOY level. Strong, fast, 6’10, elite lateral quickness and could genuinely guard 1-5. Extremely rare.
He really could’ve been a top tier player had things gone a little differently
Literally just a jumpshot away which is even more annoying because that’s the most teachable skill.
Honestly just being a league average FT shooter might have been enough.
His spine also gave out. He still would have continued to be an allstar tier player but literally his spine gave out.
he was a top tier player. he was a jump shot away from being top 75 all time imo.
He is one of the few perimeter defenders I’ve seen give Dame serious problems. I remember watching him pick Lillard up near half court every play and concede zero advantages over and over again in the 2021 season. Pretty shocking quickness and coordination for someone with his frame.
Man too bad his back went bad.
I was just thinking this morning about how sad the Ben Simmons situation makes me. Shit was so electric, and the city so hopeful, when he and Embiid were young and healthy
When a guy is banging you
San Antonio knows how to fuck
Nice trade Dallas
And just when the Mavs were putting together the right peaces around Luka.
Now on the Lakers?
Austin Reaves instead of Kyrie Irving Jake Laravia instead of PJ Washington Walker Kessler instead of Gafford and Lively Sexton instead of Klay.
Lukas whole career got fucked
Just took us to the finals 6 months ago better trade him after he hurts his ankle on Christmas though.
People are seriously underestimating the Lakers this year. Also mentioning Laravia is hilarious as he’s close to the end of the bench now. AR and Kessler are legit weapons combined with Luka.Throw in Thybulle and you have a squad that is simultaneously offensively deadly while covering defensive weakness. Just last season the Lakers had a better record than Luka had in his mavs career and yes LeBron was a part of that but their success maintained stability when he was out
This angle makes this shot look so much harder
Simmons was a defensive beast
Hope he gets another chance in the NBA.
I thought this was going to be making fun of Simmons or something but nah, good defense, better offense
Dumb reach and then he allows Luka to get to his spot when he disengages to complain and embellish contact.
To this day. Ben Simmons has been the best player to guard Luka I’ve seen.
Mavs fans all know Ben Simmons is the best 1 on 1 defender Luka has ever gone against since being drafted
Missed the part right after when Ben Simmons dunks on him
I thought Ben Simmons would have a long career after seeing how he played d on Luka. Better than anyone else in the league has.
Those back injuries really cooked his athleticism
As a defender, there’s really nothing else you can do. You move your feet, don’t reach, take every bump, and contest well. Just gotta move on to the next play.
ben was so fun to watch defend
Is this the same game Luka hit that bullshit hook shot 3 pointer to beat the shot clock and essentially win the game against us? Love him but fuck him for that
If you’ve had that, you know how it feels.
It feels really good.
Fuck you Nico! I feel like I just say this on every Luka post. Dudes a savage. Yes he has flaws. Cheats on D to get steals, lack of effort, complains to the refs more where they get a 4 on 5. But the dude is a fucking generational talent. AND YOU TRADE HIM FOR AD WHO PLAYS LIKE 30 GAMES AND 1 1ST RD PICK. My wife could get more than that. #MFFL
“great offense beats great defense”
God damn bro
Love how they both look at the refs
Fuck Nico Harrison!
He’s so back
I love to root for players that are constantly looking at the officials for a fouls mid dribble.
Luka is better but I admit when Ben was in his athletic prime in Philadelphia he gave Luka a hard time defensively
“Lebron, we good…”
“I can’t do it coach… I been guarding him since he woke up.”
Ben Simmons had so much potential.
I still think Ben Simmons could have a career as a lockdown defender. People just need to reframe their expectations of him
Anybody count how many times Luka palmed the ball?
About as many reach in fouls as Simmons had
And still Dallas traded him off. Such a crazy move
i love luka talking smack
He made it look easy
Luka a dawg boy.
Wish him and AR could have stayed healthy at the end of the season.
Bron would have went out on a high note. They were rolling before the injuries.
He looks at the ref like bro!?!? And when he realizes the call isn’t coming, he locks in
Simmons was like Luka let me show you what you cant do, all the defense.
Luka was like let me show you what you cant do, proceeds to shoot the ball.
That was a really terrible offensive play
Ngl this type of ball sucks
This is how I know we are still in the offseason times are getting tough
Damn that’s cold
yeah, when you’re dealing with someone this good you can only contest and pray
Man, this wasnt even peak Simmo, beast of a defender. Luka is just different
You kinda can’t play defense like that whilst not caring about basketball. Although this video proves otherwise I guess.
My back hurts now from watching that.
At one point Ben Simmons was the best perimeter defender in the league
Arms up
….dats brazy
Fouled Luka at least twice. There’s a reason he was upset. Dude is so cold though, still freaking scored lol
As a Laker fan, I can’t put into words how much I’ve wanted Ben Simmons in a Laker uniform. His downfall as a player will make his level of defense forgotten, but I genuinely think he’s a top 15 perimeter defender in the history of the league
When was this 1 on 1 tourney.
Luka belongs in the “i would score anyway” club. What can you do better in defense ??? If he had anticipated the step back Luka would have pump faked.
You can’t much double team him due to his ability to pass the ball.
On the offensive point of view Luka Doncic is a nightmare for every team.
basketball must be so easy if youre 6’7 270 and a positve wing span.
luka complains too much - go back and watch scotties defense on magic in 1991. this isn’t even that bad from simmons. good clean def.
I’m sad again. Way to go. 😭😭😭
Gotta be demoralizing.
I miss Luka
GOT HIM!!!
I forgot Ben could still play defense And I always assume Luka is a big fat European with no moves, but this reminded me otherwise
Nah too cocky I’d trade him for the fragile goat AD. I’m still hurt
Love the defense and offense…great product here
Missing the Don 💙
ISO ball…so fun😑
i’ve seen enough, PUT HIS ASS ON THE 76ERS
Simmons called for a hook/push off lol
Luka looks annoyed, flicks him away, baits for foul, gets nothing, then gets mad that he has to use his insane talent to hit the tough shot, lol.