BOSTON – The allure was undeniable: a 26-year-old guard with a lightning-quick release and the ability to drop 25 points on any given night. When the Boston Celtics acquired Anfernee Simons, they knew they were getting a scorer. What they’re quickly discovering, however, is the full package of what that means—the exhilarating highs and the frustrating lows of a player whose impact is almost entirely tied to one skill: putting the ball in the basket.
1. The Scorer’s Paradox: “When He’s On, He’s On”
There’s no questioning Anfernee Simons’ offensive talent. He is a bona fide three-level scorer:
An elite three-point shooter with deep range.
A capable creator who can get his own shot off the dribble.
Efficient in the mid-range and at the rim.
When his shot is falling, he’s a human torch, capable of single-handedly igniting a scoring run. He’s a “firestarter,” the kind of player who can change the complexion of a game in a few possessions.
2. The Other Side of the Coin: The Vanishing Act
The problem, as Celtics fans are now seeing firsthand, is what happens when the shots aren’t falling. Unlike Boston’s other guards, Simons doesn’t have a reliable secondary skill to fall back on.
Defensive Liabilities: His defense has always been unreliable, making him a target for opposing offenses.
Limited Playmaking: His passing never fully developed to the level expected, limiting his ability to facilitate for others.
One-Dimensional Impact: When his scoring dries up, his overall contribution to the game shrinks dramatically.
This was masked in Portland, where he was a focal point and had the green light to shoot through slumps. In Boston, with its championship aspirations and backcourt depth, there’s no such safety net.
3. A Crowded Backcourt: No Room for Inconsistency
This is the core of the issue in Boston. The Celtics don’t need Simons to be a star; they need him to be a consistent, reliable piece. And when compared to the team’s other guards, his one-dimensional nature becomes stark.
Derrick White: An elite defender who also provides solid scoring and playmaking.
Payton Pritchard: A fantastic rebounder for his size and a pesky defender who can also hit threes.
If both White and Pritchard can provide most of Simons’ scoring plus those other invaluable traits, then Simons’ role on a deep, contending team becomes murky. He’s been benched for long stretches by Coach Joe Mazzulla after off-nights, a clear message that in Boston, production is mandatory.
Anfernee Simons is at a career crossroads. In Portland, he was a beloved main event. In Boston, he’s learning to be a supporting act. His journey with the Celtics is a case study in the value of versatility in the modern NBA. For Simons to secure a meaningful role on a contender, he must either find a level of scoring consistency that few players ever achieve, or he must rapidly develop the ancillary parts of his game that he’s never needed before. The talent is there; the question is whether he can evolve beyond it.