Ben Simmons has now become the Pandemic P of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Doc Rivers gave him the ultimate vote of no-confidence today.
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The Philadelphia 76ers, who were heavy betting favorites to win the game at home tonight, succumbed to their 4th straight early playoff exit. The lion’s share of the blame for this will go to Ben Simmons from NBA Twitter.
Simmons brought all the Benny 1-point, Game of Zones and shooting memes from 2017 back to the spotlight. Indeed, his inability to even go up for an open dunk from under the bucket in the 4th quarter was one of the most inexplicable plays we’ve ever seen from an All-Star.
Not only is he in his head all too much, he’s just not got the skillset to be a good shooter. Simmons is who he is at this point: a partly-improved non-shooting power forward who can push the break.
Much like Rudy Gobert and Draymond Green, the DPOY finalist has displayed some clear signs that he’ll never really be a superstar. The only that remains to be seen is what Sixers’ POBO Daryl Morey will get out of him after placing him on the trade block.
Doc Rivers says Ben Simmons may never be a starting point guard for a championship team
Doc Rivers seemed to be completely fed up with Ben’s idiosyncracies on the court after the Sixers’ Game 7 loss. The 2008 NBA champion with the Boston Celtics did not find it in him to throw out any kind words for him.
Doc first said Ben needs to get back in the gym and practice free throws with no vision for tomorrow. But what he said after that is what indicts Ben Simmons and almost confirms that Morey has him on the trade block.
After 5 years in the league and 4 years of flattering to deceive, Simmons has pushed the Sixers to the end of the tether. Joel Embiid is a once-in-a-generation talent. They can’t be messing around with all of the talent they’ve amassed over the years for one non-shooter.
