Three games isn’t much of a sample size, but Ben Simmons looks pretty much like the same player we saw over the past few seasons.

Defensively he’s always quality, and he’s running in transition and moving up and down the floor. He just hasn’t changed much on the offensive side of the ball, where field goal attempts are at 9.7, down almost two full shots from the 11.4 number he posted last year. And that number was down from the 12.2 and 12.3 shots he took as a sophomore and rookie, respectively.

We’re still looking for assertive Ben Simmons, and so is new teammate Danny Green, who said this at shoot around on Tuesday:

“I think we all knew how talented he was; I think now it’s just him grasping and understanding a system and forming into, which he’s not naturally, a point guard. He’s a great playmaker, as Doc (Rivers) would say, and he’s good at making plays, but he’s still learning how to put sets together, put people in places, which is going to be different for him. Especially with the new system. All of us figuring it out and helping him and making the game easier for him and him making the game easier for us.

I just think he has to be more assertive at certain times. Be more patient, but at the same time, trusting his abilities. Not just what he’s good at doing, but things that we know he’s not used to doing, and that’s shooting the jumper. I think he can shoot it pretty well. I’ve been trying to get him to shoot it a little more here and there, but that’s a process in itself. Hopefully, we can learn the offense first and we’ll figure out his comfortability within the offense and hopefully expand on his game a little more.”

Green could be more assertive, too. He’s only shot the ball 11 times this year. During his last two title winning seasons, he was getting up about five three-pointers per game, and 7.5 field goals.

But yes, Simmons does need to attack, and shoot, and be more aggressive. That’s typically when he plays his best. The good thing is that his free throw attempts are up by 1.6 per game this season, and if he’s finishing drives, embracing contact, and getting to the line, then that’s a great point from which to grow.

He can’t be the same guy on offense this year. His offensive game needs to be elevated to the next level, the next tier.