After drilling his eighth three of the second half – tying a Celtics franchise record for three-pointers in a half and pushing Boston’s lead to 14 with under a minute to play – Anfernee Simons slid over defensively to help Derrick White strip Patrick Williams in the paint. Jordan Walsh corralled the loose ball, and the Celtics dribbled out the clock.
It was a fitting sequence to end Simons’ best game in a Celtics uniform.
This was the Simons the Celtics had hoped for when they acquired him via trade in late June, and it went beyond his season-high 27 points (9-of-16 FG, 8-of-14 3PT), all of which came in the second half — the most by a Celtics reserve in a half in the play-by-play era (1996–97).
It was the effort, aggressiveness, physicality, attention to detail, and ability to execute defensively that head coach Joe Mazzulla praised after the game.
“What you see from him is kinda what you get. Just a guy that has come in with a great attitude. He’s happy to be here, wants to do whatever it takes to win, and has an understanding of that. But also is super confident,” Mazzulla said. “And you’ve seen there are some games where that run that he’s been on and his stint has separated the game for us. But where he’s really been the most consistent is on the defensive end. The physicality on the defensive end, executing our schemes, executing our coverages, playing with a level of physicality. That’s where he’s been at his best. He just comes in every day, wants to work, wants to play hard, wants to win. He’ll do what it takes.”
Simons’ defense has been heavily scrutinized throughout his NBA career, an area of his game he has worked diligently to sharpen with the Celtics’ coaching staff. By focusing on understanding the team’s schemes and consistently putting himself in the right positions, Simons believes he has made meaningful growth on that end of the floor.
“Just being in the right spots. Knowing my matchup. Knowing whether you shoot, drive left, drive right, you know, just being locked in,” Simons said. “Not putting myself in bad positions to be scored on, and being in a better position for my teammates as well. So I’ve been pretty pleased with myself when it comes to that end of the floor. And just got to keep building.”
Simons, who spent the first seven years of his NBA career in Portland, knew when he arrived in Boston that defense would be non-negotiable. It has long been a point of emphasis for Mazzulla-coached teams. Early on, Mazzulla repeatedly reminded Simons that he was “not as bad as people think” defensively, and steadily throughout the season, Simons has shown he can be a serviceable defender, even if limitations remain.
“I think he’s always had that ability,” Payton Pritchard said. “It’s a little bit harder when you’re like the main engine to maybe play defense every night at a high level, because he was carrying the load in Portland. But for him, he’s just expanding his game. But he’s always been capable of this.”
The last few weeks have been the best Simons has looked in a Celtics uniform. Over the past 15 games, he owns the best plus-minus in the NBA (+168). Since December 1, he leads the league in net rating (22.0) among players averaging at least 20 minutes per game.
He has scored in double figures in eight of his last nine games, including four games with at least 15 points and two over 20, averaging 15.2 points (44.3% FG, 43.5% 3PT), 2.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. He is one of four bench players (along with Naz Reid, Jordan Poole, and Jaime Jaquez Jr.), averaging at least 15 points over that stretch. With Monday night’s win, the Celtics improved to 5-1 when he scores 20 or more.
As he continues to grow into his role, Simons has looked increasingly comfortable, an acclimation process he has described as fun.
“It’s been fun. Each game is something different. Just trying to find the ways I can impact the game,” Simons said. “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. I think it’s been fun, kind of implementing myself into this culture that’s been set, and the expectations that have been set already as well. So it’s been fun. Obviously, almost halfway through the season, I feel like I’ve grown so much in a lot of areas, just mentally, how to approach each and every game. Just attention to detail and the intensity that we play each and every night, that’s the standard that’s been set. And so I’ve been pretty pleased with myself and obviously the team, how much we’ve been taking on that challenge.”
Simons has quietly put together a strong season off the bench. He ranks third among reserves in plus-minus (+175), which leads the Eastern Conference. Among reserves with at least 30 games played, he leads the NBA in net rating (9.2). He also leads all reserves in three-pointers made (90) and ranks third in points (474).
With the February 5 trade deadline looming, Simons will likely be a popular name in the ole trade machines. However, maybe those conversations should be halted.
“He’s a hell of a ball player,” said Pritchard. “He can play on any team with the way he can create for himself, create for others, or play off-ball. He’s a complete ball player. And you guys see it every night.”
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