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World reacts to Ben Simmons’ ‘egregious meltdown’

BEN Simmons has been accused of running scared in a calamity which has seen NBA commentators come for him hard.

Tyson OttoTyson Otto
@tottodtsport
4 min read
May 6, 2018 - 1:07PM
That’s a hard way to learn a lesson.
That’s a hard way to learn a lesson.

BEN Simmons has been accused of running scared as Philadelphia crashed to a 3-0 deficit in their Eastern Conference semi-final series with Boston.

Basketball commentators and fans came for Simmons after the Sixers’ overtime choke to the Celtics on their home court — after giving up a four-point lead with one minute to play.

The Celtics’ 101-98 win has put Philadelphia on the brink of being swept from the playoffs.

Commentators have pointed the finger of blame squarely at the 76ers’ rookie point guard after the 21-year-old made a series of telling blunders down the stretch and again in overtime.

Simmons and his teammates made fatal turnovers with game three of the eastern conference semi-final series on the line.

Simmons, who had a nightmare game two in which scored just one point, was more aggressive but his four turnovers helped sink the 76ers.

Simmons finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. His shaky moments included missing an open dunk when the scores were locked at 81-81 with five minutes to play and a failing to connect on a put back deep in overtime.

Simmons was also involved in a miscommunication with teammate JJ Redick in the final seconds of regulation which resulted in a steal and Celtics guard Terry Rozier passing it to Jaylen Brown for the easy lay-up to take the lead 89-87 with 1.7 seconds to go.

The 76ers Marco Belinelli hit a corner two-pointer off a set play to send the game into overtime, although 76ers operations staff thought it was a game- winning three-pointer for the win and set off confetti falling from the rafters. It delayed overtime by 10 minutes while the floor was cleaned up. In the key play of the game, Simmons’ final pass to Joel Embiid was intercepted by the Celtics’ Al Horford and Boston claimed the win.

Much worse than those blunders, however, was the accusation that for the second consecutive game, Simmons was accused of running scared in crunch time.

He shot zero from four in Game 2 in Boston. This time the damning accusation centred around the Louisiana State University product’s failure to hold onto the ball and accept a foul when his team led with 20 seconds to play.

Simmons grabbed a huge offensive board off an Embiid brick, but inexplicably tossed up a tough put-back instead of holding the ball or kicking it out to a teammate when his team was in front by one with the shot clock turned off.

Commentators, including ESPN host Jalen Rose, suggested Simmons refused to hold onto the ball because he was scared of being sent to the free throw line to make the game-winning play.

WHAT BASKETBALL COMMENTATORS HAD TO SAY

Boston kept its cool. Philly did not.
Boston kept its cool. Philly did not.

NBA great Jalen Rose has led the scathing criticism of Aussie star Ben Simmons, suggesting the star Australian got gun-shy as Philadelphia’s season crumbled in Game 3.

While Simmons was just one of many Sixers players to come up with blunders in the key moments, his were the most memorable.

None of his errors attracted more scorn than his put-back in the last 20 seconds.

Coming off a paltry one-point performance in Game 2 — the critics had more ammunition than they’ve ever had to attack Simmons’ status as the likely Rookie of the Year for season 2017-18.

Rose said it was a “night to forget” for Simmons after accusing the point guard of shrinking in the moment he could have stood tall with a clear head and won the game for his team.

He was far from the only commentator to launch against Simmons.

With the game played to the backdrop of growing calls championing the claims of fellow rookie sensations Jayson Tatum (Boston) and Donovan Mitchell (Utah) for Rookie Of The Year honours, the criticism for Simmons was overwhelming.

Influential Fox Sports commentator Skip Bayless had an entire rant against Simmons performance, declaring the Aussie was “out of control”.

WHAT SIMMONS HAD TO SAY

Jayson Tatum has a strong case for being the best rookie on the floor this series.
Jayson Tatum has a strong case for being the best rookie on the floor this series.

BEN Simmons says the put-back attempt in the final 20 seconds was purely a reflex action.

“I think it was just natural instinct,” Simmons said in the locker room.

“Right next the rim, it’s a shot I take every practice, every day, every game, I take one of those. I missed it.

“A lot of opportunities, a lot of mistakes we made, and it’s frustrating when you know what the mistakes are, but we gotta come in tomorrow and lock in, it’s going to be very hard.”

He admitted he made a lot of wrong decisions.

“You know I got a lot of growing to do,” Simmons said.

“This is the first season I’ve played, the first time I’ve played in the playoffs, I’m learning a lot.

“It’s a great opportunity for myself and the team and we’re all learning together.

“Boston’s a great team, they’ve been there before.

“They’ve been in a situation where they got close to that next round and you know we want to get there to. Obviously, it’s going to take a lot.”

WHAT SIXERS COACH BRETT BROWN HAD TO SAY

Brett Brown refused to lay it on Ben Simmons.
Brett Brown refused to lay it on Ben Simmons.

BRETT Brown came under fire for Philadelphia’s choke at the end of Game 3.

It comes after he was also criticised for keeping Simmons on the floor as the rookie star struggled to make an impact in Boston.

Brown admitted his young players “looked young” down the stretch as Boston simply capitalised on Philadelphia’s late blunders.

However, he defended Simmons’ decision not to hold onto the ball when he grabbed the key offensive board at the death.

“If it was a point blank dunk, you probably would take that,” Brown said.

“If we had it again, you’d probably bring that back out and let them chase you and foul.

“On so many levels — this being one of the examples — it’s the thing that I see and feel the most, and internally hear the loudest; that our young guys, at times, look young.”

Originally published as World reacts to Ben Simmons’ ‘egregious meltdown’

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/basketball/nba/world-reacts-to-ben-simmons-egregious-meltdown/news-story/59ae2f4c0c4acb5be3578ba40a9ce08e