Ben Simmons taunted by fans as 76ers lose NBA playoff opener to Celtics

Ben Simmons has been trolled by Celtics fans as he struggled in the Philadelphia 76ers’ playoff loss to Boston.

Ben Simmons defends Shane Larkin during game one. Picture: AFP

Ben Simmons’ Philadelphia 76ers have tasted a rare loss as the Boston Celtics convincingly took the opening game of their NBA eastern conference semi-finals series, AAP reports.

The Celtics were always in control in Monday’s 117-101 victory in front of a delirious home crowd in Boston’s TD Garden.

The 76ers have been the NBA’s hottest team, entering the playoffs on a 16-game winning streak and dispatched the Miami Heat 4-1 in the first round. The tough Celtics, playing without injured stars Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward and Jaylen Brown, physically challenged rookie point guard Simmons and took away the 76ers’ usually potent three-point shooters.

“To look at this game defensively and offensively, this is not who we are,” Sixers coach Brett Brown said.

“This was a very poor game for us and I give credit to the Celtics for producing that.” Celtics guard Terry Rozier was electric, repeatedly sparking his team with big plays, including seven three-pointers in his 29 points.

“We are a pro team and will play hard no matter what,” Rozier said. The Celtics’ Australian centre Aron Baynes continued to show off his improved long-range shooting with two three-pointers in his six points and six rebounds effort.

He also had the tough task of battling 76ers’ All-Star big man Joel Embiid. In the Celtics’ first-round series with the Milwaukee Bucks coach Brad Stevens pulled Baynes from the starting line-up and replaced him with the more athletic Semi Ojeleye.

Stevens brought the burly 208cm Baynes back into his starting five to help combat the 213cm tall Embiid, who finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds. Although Stevens was content with the outcome.

Melbourne-born Simmons had flashes of brilliance including power dunks and exceptional passes in his 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists, but he struggled with seven turnovers.

The 76ers had a horror night shooting from distance, connecting with just five of 26 three-point attempts.

Boston sank 47 per cent of their three-pointers.

“I give the Celtics credit for getting to our shooters,” Brown said. Philadelphia’s JJ Reddick missed five of his seven three-point attempts and Robert Covington and Dario Saric both went 0-4.

Game two of the best-of-seven-series is in Boston on Thursday before the next two in Philadelphia.

Jayson Tatum goes up for a dunk. Picture: AFP

12.40pm: Inglorious end for Aussie

The Celtics have taken a 1-0 series lead as Simmons’ unhappy night ends with a comprehensive 117-101 defeat. The Sixers reduced the deficit to ten points midway through the final term but they’ve had an off night. Celtics fans roared their delight when Simmons missed a pair of free throws in the final minutes. Simmons had a few terrific touches — one pass went between his own legs and then though the Celtics’ Al Horford’s legs to set up a basket for the Sixers, but it’s been a frustrating night for the Australian. He’s finished by being called for a travel in a mistake that’s summed up his night. The Celtics’ Marcus Smart has accused him of an elbow to the face.

Simmons finishes with 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists, but he also had seven turnovers and shot 6-11 from the charity stripe.

The Celtics’ relatively unheralded rookie Jayson Tatum has stolen Simmons’ thunder with 28 points. While Tatum was at the free thrown line, the crowd has sledged Simmons again by chanting, “He’s a rookie! He’s a rookie!” It’s only the second loss the Sixers have had since March 17. Simmons and most of his teammates were walking up the tunnel before the full-time whistle.

Dario Saric and Joel Embiid during Philadelphia’s loss to Boston in game one of their playoff series. Picture: AFP

12pm: Simmons taunted by home fans

Ben Simmons is being taunted by the crowd at The Garden. Lining up a free throw, Celtics fans have chanted, “Not a rookie! Not a rookie!” It’s in reference to Simmons’ likely crowning as the NBA’s rookie of the year ahead of Utah’s Donovan Mitchell two years after he was signed to the Sixers. Simmons missed his entire first season to a foot injury.

Mitchell has previously suggested that Simmons should be ineligible.

Simmons’s turnover count is up to six, to go with five rebounds and four assists.

Baynes is doing his job and then some. He’s matching defensive rebounds with a couple of key three-pointers to keep the Celtics ahead. The Sixers have lost rhythm after a six-day wait for the match.

Their 4-1 defeat of the Miami Heat in the opening round of the playoffs was wrapped up so quickly that they had to wait for the Celtics to get past the Milwaukee Bucks just a couple of days ago.

Simmons has jammed a two-handed bucket and roared straight after it ... but it’s been a rather discombobulated day at the office. The Celtics lead 87-75 at three-quarter time. The Sixers have landed only four of their 18 three-point attempts.

Celtics fans unleash “Not-a-Rookie” chant, Donovan Mitchell responds 3 minutes later. #NBATwitter forever. pic.twitter.com/CNyREfyPXq

— Rob Perez (@World_Wide_Wob) May 1, 2018

11.20am: Celtics in charge

Neither Will Smith nor Sixers coach Brett Brown will like the way this is going. Philly’s missing shots left, right and centre and being blown away by an inspired Celtics line-up that has another injury concern — Marcus Smart’s thumb injury has him wincing. The hosts lead 56-45 at halftime.

There’s nothing wrong with Simmons’ ball movement and physicality but he’s by no means having a game to remember. Fellow Aussie Aron Baynes has nailed a clutch three-pointer over Embiid’s 213cm frame. A one-handed dunk from Simmons late in the first half may have triggered a more productive phase — but he’s been called for a travel and his fourth turnover of the match.

Boston Celtics guard Terry Rozier celebrates a three-pointer in the first quarter against the 76ers. Picture: AP

11.05am: He’s heating up

After missing his first shot, Ben Simmons has got going with eight points and heading in to the closing seconds of the first half. His turnover count is up to four, however, and the Australian has just one rebound and two assists.

A @BenSimmons25 jam, compliments of @JJRedick. pic.twitter.com/G9o1BERcdF

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) May 1, 2018

10.50am: Simmons shaky early

Ben Simmons has made a nervous start. He’s missed his first shot, thrown a pass straight over the sideline and coughed up three turnovers.

There’s been a flurry of poor shooting at either end of the court but the Celtics have pulled ahead. Baynes has made the starting five and has the tall order of marking Joel Embiid. His Celtics have seemed to be up against it after the withdrawal of the injured Jaylen Brown.

Brown is out with a hamstring injury. He’s the third big-name Celtic to be sidelined after Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward succumbed to injuries this season. Simmons and the 76ers were hoping to simply make the playoffs this year. Twelve months ago, the Sixers were the worst team in America. Now they’re two series wins from contesting the NBA Finals ... but so is Baynes. The Celtics lead 25-22 at quarter-time.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons drives against Boston Celtics forward Semi Ojeleye in the first quarter of game one of the NBA playoffs. Picture: AP

Game one preview

You don’t have to know a pick-and-roll from picking your nose to know this is big. Ben Simmons’ rookie NBA season is about to go up a notch, if that’s possible, when he steps into one of the most legendary rivalries in world sport.

His Philadelphia 76ers take on the Boston Celtics in the NBA playoffs at The Garden from 10am. Simmons will face countryman Aron Baynes, the defensive wall for the Celtics, in game one of the best-of-seven series.

One of Philly’s favourite sons, Hollywood actor Will Smith, has released a video hyping the occasion and calling Simmons the new “fresh Prince.” Smith’s video has clips of the underdog Philadelphia Eagles winning this year’s Superbowl in the NFL, mixed with highlights of Simmons and the upstart 76ers attempting to follow suit in the NBA. “Can you feel that?” Smith says in the clip. “That’s the rumble of another parade on Broad Street.”

Will Smith dubs Ben Simmons the "new Fresh Prince" 👑 https://t.co/SmJiQmR1nz pic.twitter.com/2hK5bmrJT0

— Complex (@Complex) April 30, 2018

Ben Simmons arrives for the @sixers Conference Semifinals action in Boston! #PhantomCam

🏀: #PhilaUnite x #CUsRise Game 1
⏰: 8:00pm/et 📺: @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/tNInZ9QGGd

— NBA (@NBA) April 30, 2018

A storied rivalry

A civic rivalry that dates back to the Revolutionary War era came of age on the basketball court with Wilt Chamberlain leading the Philadelphia Warriors, and later the 76ers, against Bill Russell’s Celtics in the 1960s, AP reports. Larry Bird and Julius Erving picked it up in the 1980s.

Celtics forward Marcus Morris, a Philadelphia native, grew up watching the Allen Iverson-led 76ers that went to the NBA Finals in 2001 but lost to Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker’s Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals the following year.

He’s not expecting any favours from his hometown crowd.

“I’m expecting the same treatment as far as them not even caring that I’m from Philadelphia,” Morris said after practice on Sunday, a day after the Celtics advanced by eliminating the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 7 of their first-round series. “I really don’t care either, when I’m competing against them.” The franchises have met 19 times in the playoffs (though only three times in the past 33 years), with Boston holding a 12-7 edge.

Two years after winning just 10 games, the rebuilding “Process” is paying off for the 76ers.

Simmons, the No. 1 overall pick in 2016 before missing all of last season, averaged 18.2 points and 10.6 rebounds against the Heat - both improvements over his regular-season numbers.

Embiid, the third overall pick in 2014, returned after missing the first two games of the playoffs and averaged 18.7 points and 10.3 rebounds in three wins over Miami.

“They’re super-talented,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. “That’s what happens when you’re in the NBA playoffs. It’s fun.” The Celtics held Milwaukee’s star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo to zero fast break points in Game 7 of their first-round series.

They know that transition defence will also be a key against Philadelphia, which was one of the best in the NBA on the break.

“In transition, they just make you pay,” Celtics centre Al Horford said. “They just present a whole different challenge.” Stevens said guard Jaylen Brown still had some soreness from a hamstring injury he sustained in Game 7 and is doubtful for Game 1 against the Sixers. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 draft, Brown averaged 14.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game this season. He said on Saturday he would be back. “Whatever it takes, I wouldn’t miss this series for the world,” Brown said. The Celtics are already without stars Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving, as well as Daniel Theis.

Additional reporting: AP