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‘Drake Curse’ could help Ben Simmons in the NBA playoffs but may spell disaster for Arya Stark

Everyone’s new favourite GoT character may have hit with a horrible curse by one of the world’s biggest music superstars.

Andrew McMurtry
3 min read
May 2, 2019 - 8:16PM

If Arya Stark doesn’t make it to the end, you can blame Drake.

The Canadian rapper has a long record of being the anchor around the neck of sporting teams he follows and he may have sentenced everyone’s favourite TV assassain to a grisly end.

While he could be an ally for Aussie NBA star Ben Simmons in his bid to get to the next round of the NBA Playoffs with his support of the Toronto Raptors, Arya has been exposed with a direct hit of the “Drake curse”.

“Shout out to Arya Stark for putting in that work last week,” he said while accepting one of his many awards at the Billboard Music Awards.

While Game of Thrones fans will be ready to pounce if anything happens to Arya, there could be a good use of the Drake curse for Australia.

Aussie NBA star Simmons could be on his way to the next round of the playoffs on the back of the curse.

After reaching the NBA All-Star game off the bench as the first Australian to achieve the goal, the 76ers were on fire after a game one stumble, belting the Brooklyn Nets in five games.

As Simmons and Philadelphia wrapped up their place in the second round of the NBA Playoffs, the Toronto Raptors matched their Atlantic Division rivals, locking in a mouth-watering clash.

One of the happiest fans to see Toronto through to the next round was Canadian rapper and Raptors number one ticketholder Drake.

The “Drake Curse” may not have reared its ugly head in the first round with the Raptors crushing the Orlando Magic in five-games but the superstar clearly has it on his mind.

Upon leaving the game after the Raptors clinched the series, Drake was heard asking reporters “You want me to talk about the curse or you guys good?”

Drake may even be shedding the curse after meeting players from his English Premier League side Crystal Palace before they beat Arsenal.

But the teams he has left in his wake is long.

Drake back Alabama before the 2019 National Championship football game, only for Clemson to ambush them, saw Serena Williams be stunned by Roberta Vinci in the 2015 US Open semi-finals and Kentucky men’s basketball team miss the mark since 2014.

He was also in Conor McGregor’s corner with a green jacket and everything as he was dismantled by Khabib Nurmagomedov.

The 76ers will be hoping the “Drake Curse” just skipped a round.
The 76ers will be hoping the “Drake Curse” just skipped a round.

He was also in the crowd as the Toronto Maple Leafs lost in game four of the NHL Playoffs.

AS Roma have even banned player from taking photos with Drake.

Fans are also wary of the superstar.

The Raptors have embraced Drake however, naming the training facility the OVO Athletic Centre after Drake’s brand October’s Very Own.

For Simmons, the curse may be what the Sixers need to get to the next level.

Philadelphia have a horrible record against Toronto during the Simmons era.

In eight matches against the Raptors, the Aussie star has been part of just two wins.

Can Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid take the 76ers all the way?
Can Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid take the 76ers all the way?

Adding to the disastrous record, in 2018-19, the 76ers beat the Raptors just once in four game this season, in a game they were missing two-time defensive player of the year Kawhi Leonard, as well as Serge Ibaka and Jonas Valanciunas.

The 76ers made it to the second round of the NBA Playoffs last year as well before going down to the Boston Celtics in five games.

Simmons’ All-Star teammate Joel Embiid said the Sixers would be confident of playing anyone with the team the 76ers have assembled.

“We feel like this team is better than last year’s team,” Embiid said. “Last year we had a lot of momentum going into the playoffs but Boston just smacked us.

“Going into this series is different because this is now my second time being here and last year we were over confident. This year it’s just about respecting everything about the game of basketball and putting the work in.”

Simmons brushed off the Nets’ sledging in round one of the Playoffs.
Simmons brushed off the Nets’ sledging in round one of the Playoffs.

Asked about how the 22-year-old has developed as a player in the Playoffs, Simmons said he was enjoying the challenge.

“For me, I’ve got to be the guy who’s running the team,” he said. “I’m the point guard, I’ve got the ball for a majority of the time bringing it up and I’ve got to kind of orchestrate everything going on. It’s a blessing and a curse but I’m really enjoying have the opportunity to do that again.”

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Simmons was asked about his trouble with playing Leonard and he had a quick answer “prepare, stay focused”.

Despite having the likes of Simmons, Embiid, Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris, the “Drake Curse” could also be helpful in overcoming the Sixers’ hoodoo side.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/sports-life/drake-curse-to-help-ben-simmons-philadelphia-76ers-in-round-two-of-nba-playoffs/news-story/91e2b7e2ddca393c295b6c55b0b5113d