Is the defense of new Boston Celtics guard Anfernee Simons better than advertised?

Is the defense of new Boston Celtics guard Anfernee Simons better than advertised? The former Portland Trail Blazers 3-point assassin has made a name for himself not only as one of the better shots from beyond the arc, but also as one of the most electric dunkers in the league. But when it comes to the other side of the court, Simons has an earned reputation for being one of the worst heavy-minutes defenders in the Association.

Or at least he had before he was traded to Boston this offseason. Since then, he has shown some flashes in preseason of some serious defensive effort, and that came together well in the first game of the 2025-26 regular season vs. the Philadelphia 76ers.

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The man behind the “Nik NBA” YouTube channel put together a clip of Simons’ play so far with Boston on both ends of the court with an emphasis on defense. Check it out below!

Listen to “Havlicek Stole the Pod” on:

Spotify: https://tiny.ee/CdKp

iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47

YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Is the defense of Anfernee Simons better than advertised?