BOSTON — “It’s just a matter of if I want to do it or not.”
That’s what Anfernee Simons said about his defense at Boston Celtics Media Day back in September. That was the message he interpreted when first talking to the Celtics.
It was the first time he spoke to the media since being traded to Boston in the deal that sent Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers, and one thing was clear: There were no misconceptions about his defense.
Throughout his time in Portland, Simons struggled on defense. He became known for that problem. That inability to hold his own on that side of the ball. He knew it. The Celtics knew it. Joe Mazzulla knew it. It was one of the first conversations Simons had with his new head coach.
“Coming into a culture like this, you have to be able to adapt, or you're not going to be in the position that you want to be, whether it's playing or not playing,” Simons said. “So, to me, it's really that simple, and that's the honest conversations we had about it. And he always says that, you're not as bad as people think you are. And so, that's good to hear.
“But also, I got to do the work to get better in that end and focus in on exactly what we need to do on defensive end. And so, like I said, I'm pretty excited about being pushed into a new level, which I can reach.”
So, Simons got to work.
Anfernee Simons has blossomed for the Celtics
In the early part of the season, it wasn’t pretty. Through his first 20 games of the season, Simons was constantly out of position, struggling to navigate screens, and fouling far too often.
Even when he dropped 25 points in the first half against the Orlando Magic in early November, he only played 8:39 in the second half. The Celtics just couldn’t keep him on the floor.
Yet as the season has progressed, so has Simons.
Boston’s new defensive scheme involves flying around, covering for each other, and avoiding unnecessary fouls (but taking risks when the opportunity presents itself).
Now, rather than swiping his hands down or trying to make a play on the ball, Simons keeps his hands out. He fights through screens and is physical when he has to be, but not all the time.
“Mostly just getting around screens, guarding the ball, no matter what,” Simons said of his defensive improvements. No matter who's on me.”
And when he finds himself in a disadvantageous position, rather than trying to foul his way out, he just stands his ground. Whether it’s James Harden, Julius Randle, or even Victor Wembanyama
“Occupying the man isthat's coming downhill that the back-line defender can come in and contest the shot. I think that's one of the first things that I struggle with, because me, I want to be aggressive in that instance, and so just not fouling in that situation, and letting the help come and make a play. So, that's kind of the things that I've been working on.”
Fouls have turned into stops, and Simons’ defense has never looked better. Through his first 20 games, Simons was a +7 total on the season. When he was on the court, the Celtics won those minutes by seven over the course of 20 games.
Since then, he’s a +144.
The Simons Boston sees now is a completely different player than the one they inherited this summer, and the entire staff deserves credit. But assistant coach Ross McMains led the charge.
“I think everybody dips their hand into everybody's development, but obviously, I work with Ross specifically,” Simons said. “From the first workout here, that was the first thing we did: Getting my mind right [on] the end of the floor. And each and every practice, each and every game, I just slowly started to try to get comfortable.
“And you can still see myself sometimes getting adjusted, but I think for the most part, I feel like I've been doing a great job of just adjusting to it, and playing my heart out, and just going out there and playing hard, which is what they want me to do.”
And offensively, Simons is much more than just a three-point specialist. After months of ball-topping offensive possessions, Simons have found new ways to make an impact on offense.
He’s screening off the ball, giving up the rock more frequently, and constantly crashing the glass for offeinsive rebounding opportunities, which is something new for him.
“Oh yeah, he emphasizes that a lot,” Simons said of Mazzulla’s desire to crash the offensive glass. “For me, that was another one of the things that I had to adjust to was just crashing the glass. I used to be always the first guy back. [I was] always above the break. So sometimes now, I'm in the corner a lot more, spacing the floor, I'm just naturally trying to just run through the nail, run through the free throw line.
“I found myself, a couple times, the ball coming right to me. So, just those type of plays. Finding ways to give us another possession. I think it helped us out a lot today, got me a couple threes, got Payton a couple threes. Just those offensive rebounds helped us out a lot, just to give us extra possessions.”
When Simons first touched down in Boston, he knew it was going to be a change. After spending the first seven years of his career in Portland, that was always an inevitability.
“I was super excited for the opportunity to come here and join a culture that's already been set, something that was going to help my career out tremendously,” he said at Media Day. “Just playing at the highest level and winning basketball. That's what I was excited about joining and being a part of.”
At first, the change looked like it could be too much.
Despite getting constant chances to play, commonly acting as Mazzulla’s go-to sixth man, Simons’ playing time still wavered. The same issues that popped up with the Blazers were rearing their ugly heads.
But now, Simons has found his footing. He’s playing the best basketball of his career.
“It's been fun,” Simons said of embracing his new journey in Boston. “Like I said, each game is something different. Just trying to find the ways I can impact the game. Obviously, I know I can come in and be aggressive and try to score the ball. Just the little things, whether it's crashing the glass or guarding my man. It's been fun kind of implementing myself into this culture that's been set and the expectations that's been set already, too. So, it's been fun.”
The once one-sided player who came to the Celtics knowing he’d have to make a change has done so, and the results have spoken for themselves.
Simons has completely flipped the script. He began the years a guy who would come in the game for buckets and leave if they weren’t there.
Now, he’s doing a little bit of everything—and the buckets are still there.
“Obviously, ‘[we’re] almost halfway through the season, and I feel like I've grown so much in a lot of areas,” Simons said. “Just mentally, and how to approach each and every game. Just the attention to detail and the intensity that we play at each and every night.
“That's the standard that's been set, and so I've been pretty pleased with myself. And then obviously, the team, how much we've been taking on that challenge, it's been showing.”