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Anfernee Simons played just two minutes in the first half Friday as the Celtics faced the Magic. Part of it was other guys stepping up to give the C’s some energy in their comeback bid. But part of it was also Simons getting pulled right after giving up a fast-break dunk following a jump ball on the other end of the court. But Simons stepped up when his number was called in the second half. He made his presence felt with 11 fourth-quarter points, which all came at a crucial time. While the Celtics still lost 123-110 to the Magic, it was at least a small building moment for Simons as he went off in the final frame. “You just gotta relax and understand the situation you’re put in,” Simons told reporters in Orlando, via the NBC Sports Boston broadcast. “Going out there and play the game how you know how to play and be confident in those situations. As long as you’re confident in the situation, whether the shots go in or not, you can always live with those results.” Simons finished with 11 points, two rebounds and two assists in his 18 minutes Friday. The Celtics have spoken at length to open the season about getting Simons to be more aggressive, though that’s a work in progress. When he’s on, he can score with the best of them. If the quality of play isn’t good enough, the Celtics have bodies they can keep throwing into the game, as they did Friday. Simons, though, is a crucial piece because he can generate offense and hunt for his own shot. There are lineups where Simons is tasked with initiating the offense to get the Celtics going on any possession. But that’s why getting that consistency from Simons has been another point as he adjusts to a new team and new scheme. It’s also about Simons adding to his skill set other than scoring, whether that’s defensively or playmaking — in other words, affecting the game even without the ball. That’s all a work in progress this early in the season for Simons and the Celtics. The league knows the guard can score after his years in Portland. He showed that in bursts Friday against the Magic. But it’s also about getting to a point where Simons can be a consistent nightly threat for the Celtics. “I thought he responded pretty well,” C’s coach Joe Mazzulla said. “I thought he was more aggressive in the second half. There was no message there. He just has an understanding of what we have to do on both ends of the floor. I thought he did a much better job of that in the second half.”
