NBA: ‘Scared’ Simmons jilted by City of Brotherly Love

The 211cm Ben Simmons has shrunk to an all-time low. Accused by NBA legend Charles Barkley of ‘playing scared’, Philadelphia fans made it known they no longer want him in the city.

Ben Simmons was left in no doubt where he stood with Sixers fans, who reacted to the season-ending 103-96 defeat by chanting, “Trade Ben Simmons! Trade Ben Simmons!”. Picture: Getty

Three minutes and 29 seconds on the clock. Game on the line. Ball in Ben Simmons’ hands. He had an uncontested lay-up. A gimme dunk if he really wanted to lord it up. But he flinched, ducked for cover, ran for the hills. He offloaded responsibility and a whole lot of credibility before his Philadelphia 76ers were eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the upstart Atlanta Hawks.

About three minutes and 30 seconds after Simmons yips had revealed themselves so starkly and ruinously, America’s city of brotherly love turned on the 24-year-old Australian. He was left in no doubt where he stood with Sixers fans, who reacted to the season-ending 103-96 defeat by chanting, “Trade Ben Simmons! Trade Ben Simmons!”. He’s on an annual salary of $US29 million a season but when he sits down for a cuppa with his boss and an end-of-year performance review, isn’t expected to go well. Those fans who booed and hissed and threw stuff onto the court at the Wells Fargo Center will get what they want. Surely, the Sixers are going to trade Ben Simmons.

“Trade Ben Simmons” and boos

This is terrible pic.twitter.com/7kCa5WEyfe

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) June 21, 2021

“I don’t know the answer to that right now,” Sixers coach Doc Rivers said. “He struggled from the free throw line and that became a factor in the series. There’s no doubt about that. Still believe in him, but we have work to do. We’re going to have to get in the gym, put a lot of work in, and go from there.”

Only in animated films do 211cm giants shrink to such an extent.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons fights off Atlanta’s Clint Capela at Wells Fargo Centre during the NBA playoffs.

Simmons has developed the most debilitating case of the yips since ain’t no fairway was wide enough for Ian Baker-Finch at the 1985 British Open. His inability to consistently make free throws, the equivalent of golf’s tap-in putts, was torturous. He made 25 of 73 free throws in the postseason. Twenty-five-of-73. You and I could go to the high school court across the road, steal a ball from the PE shed, step up to the line and make at least 25. His postseason free-throw success rate of 34.2 per cent was the worst in NBA history.

The passage at 3min 29sec was telling. It was 88-86 to the Hawks. Simmons’ bucket would have made it 88-all. But in the exact moment when the NBA’s true superstars would demand the ball, when they would want and expect to be the bloke who makes the difference, Simmons backed out. Partly because the hoop looked small. Partly because he feared being fouled, which would send him to the free-throw line. In the background, Joel Embiid raised his hands in dismay and shook his head.

In the entire seven-game series, Simmons attempted just three fourth-quarter shots. Rivers put him on the bench for the final minute. Season on the line, Simmons was unwanted. He finished the game on the sideline. His hands were on his hips. The world’s most disappointed and expensive teapot.

Lowest FT% in a single playoffs in NBA history (min 70 attempts):

34.2 — Ben Simmons in 2021
37.4 — Shaquille O’Neal in 2006
38.0 — Wilt Chamberlain in 1968

Elite company. pic.twitter.com/s14R8cCSKm

— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 21, 2021

At halftime, when Simmons had more fouls than points, three to two, NBA legend Charles Barkley highlighted that his go-to play was offloading the ball to Joel Embiid. Simmons finished with 13 assists, eight rebounds and five points after Barkley said on the television coverage: “He’s getting rid of the ball. He’s playing scared.”

No one will collapse in shock if Simmons makes himself unavailable for the Tokyo Olympics. He was meant to slide into a Boomers singlet at the Rio Olympics, and the last two FIBA World Cups, only to withdraw at the last moment. He’s at the lowest point of his career, with a decision to make. Tough it out by trying to help the Boomers to their first ever Olympic medal. Or sit out national duties again.

Potentially, Simmons still had enough going for him to start for the Sixers in their make-or-break match. Hands like Jarome Luai. Feet like Tommy Turbo. Short passes like Cliffy Lyons’. He rebounds better than Elizabeth Taylor ever did. He can defend. He has such vision there may be eyes in the back and the sides of his head. More scoring assists than Nathan Cleary when Penrith is racking up another 50. But his yips have helped kill the Sixers off. He normally pulls the pin on the Boomers because of commitments to Philadelphia, but those days are numbered. He’s going to need to find a new set of brothers to love.