Anfernee Simons is figuring out how to be his best self as Celtics' sixth man

In the last three games, Anfernee Simons has exemplified why it's worth giving people grace and showing patience as they acclimate to new situations.

There are many players on this year's edition of the Boston Celtics who fit that profile, including Simons. The seven-year veteran isn't just accustomed to starting, but he spent the last two seasons as the Portland Trail Blazers' primary offensive option.

Now, he is acclimating to the role of sixth man. That adjustment takes time.

"It's for sure an adjustment," acknowledged Simons after Boston's 138-129 victory vs. the Orlando Magic Sunday at TD Garden. "The past couple years, when you started, and teams are guarding you aggressively from the jump. And so now, you've got to take your time and read the game and see how the best way you can attack it. So that was my thought process going into each and every game. And now everything is kind of flipped.

"So, it's just a change of how you're going to approach each and every game, and how you are going to do the small things as well, that Joe [Mazzulla] wants me to do, and the whole coaching staff wants me to do, and also just being myself as well."

As Simons reacclimates to the role he held earlier in his career, he is averaging 19 points in his last three games. The dynamic sharpshooter is knocking down nearly 68 percent of his field goal attempts. That includes burying over 50 percent of his 5.3 attempts from behind the arc.

Sunday, he torched his hometown team again. The 26-year-old guard generated 23 points on 8/11 shooting. He drilled 4/7 tries from three-point range. His five rebounds are a testament to him contributing more on the glass. He's also starting to showcase more of his abilities as a playmaker.

His recent ramp-up in production stems from a change in mindset.

Anfernee Simons unlocked by a change in approach

After the Celtics' bounce-back win following Friday's disappointing performance against the Brooklyn Nets, Simons discussed the mentality he's embracing to unlock the best version of himself in his new role.

"Honestly, just keeping it simple," he stated. "[In] previous years, that was kind of my thing. Just ease into the game and see how they guarded me, and then kind of be more aggressive in the second half.

"Here, I don't have that much time to be able to ease into the game, and so, taking the opportunities that's there. Just being myself, aggressive, and also making the right plays as well. So, I think simplifying that way, it's been easy for me the past couple games."

Knowing what Simons is capable of as a scorer, and what he can bring to a team that needs more of that, ranking 22nd in points per game [114.6], Jaylen Brown discussed the effort he and the Celtics are making to empower their new teammate.

"That's what we need," voiced Brown post-game. "Anfernee is capable offensively. We've got to continue to find spots and space for him to be a playmaker for himself and for others. Be aggressive. He's capable, so we've got to continue to empower [him], finding that rhythm for him.

"It's not easy coming off the bench, a new role for him, but I think he's been adjusting well. I'm finding ways, the coaching staff is finding ways specifically to get him in some actions and get him going a little bit because he can fill it up if you give him space."

Simons is continuing to prove that as he adapts to a new role on a new team. His talent, track record, and tapping into the mindset needed to thrive as the Celtics' sixth man are reasons to believe this version of him is here to stay -- at least for as long as he is.