Simmons plays point guard versus Bulls

LAS VEGAS – The 76ers will tell you that Ben Simmons is still a point forward.

They'll tell you that his job to get defensive rebounds, lead the fast break, and initiate the offense in certain situations when the opportunities permit.

But the 6-foot-10, 243-pounder had the ball most of the time no matter the circumstances in Sunday's 80-73 NBA Summer League setback to the Chicago Bulls at Thomas & Mack Center.  Simmons would receive the inbounds pass, dribble the ball up court and run the offense. There was no denying that he was the point guard on this night.

"I can play any position on the floor," Simmons said of running the point.  "TJ [McConnell, the Sixers normal point guard] came out for a while. He didn't play too much today. I took it upon myself to run the point a little bit more."

But it wasn't just for a little bit.

He opened up the game at that position, and played there most of the game.

"We just needed some energy, and he's our guy," Lloyd Pierce said. "It probably looked like the ball was in his hands more.  He was scoring. He was attacking. It has to stays in his hands when he is playing that way."

Follow and contact 76ers staff writer Keith Pompey on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers