Ben Simmons, You Raggedy Bitch

I’ve spent so much time defending Ben Simmons against lazy and reductive takes about his inability to shoot from the perimeter and blah blah but after the Sixers just blew a 26-point lead at home to the Atlanta Hawks to go down 3-2 in their series.

This historic collapse isn’t entirely on the shoulders of Kendall’s ex.

Tobias Harris makes $34 million this season. He scored 4 points on 2-for-11 shooting in Game 5. Every season we’re told it’s a breakout year for Harris and then he has a game like this. Reminder: the Sixers decided to sign Tobias to a max contract and keep his amazing 4-point performance over giving Jimmy Butler the max.

Second reminder: Jimmy Butler was the best player on a Miami Heat team that went to the Finals last season. Tobias Harris is like, the 6th best player on this team and he’s making the most money.

But we can shit on Tobias later.

Ben Simmons looks completely lost on an NBA floor right now.

The game swung when the Hawks started intentionally fouling Ben who went 4-for-14 from the free-throw line. He missed TEN free throws.

For so long I defended his lack of a jumper. He is not a point guard. He is a power forward who can go coast-to-coast off a defensive rebound. He’s one of the fastest players in the NBA and at his size, he can get to the rim and finish over anyone.

The problem is, when he’s not in transition, he is irrelevant. The Sixers spent the 4th quarter playing 4-on-5 on offense because Simmons crosses half court, gives the ball to Tobias or Seth Curry or George Hill and then stands in the dunker’s spot next to the paint doing absolutely nothing except clogging the lane.

He’s scored 0 points in back-to-back 4th quarters in this series. When you add his lack of free throw shooting then he goes from a nonthreat to a total liability and burden.

Here’s a cute little stat about Ben’s free throw shooting:

Shaquille O’Neal had 13 playoffs where he attempted at least 50 free throws. His worst percentage: 39.3%

Ben Simmons this postseason: 32.8%.

— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) June 17, 2021

Shaq is often considered the worst free throw shooter ever and Ben Simmons is making Shaquille O’Neal look like Steph Curry out there. The Sixers lost by 3. Ben missed 10 free throws. I don’t care about Doc Rivers blowing another lead or the Sixers defense collapsing. Ben Simmons lost this game simply by stepping onto the court.

Ben Simmons was supposed to be this defensive stopper. A triple-double machine with legendary court vision and versatility at his size. He was going to be a perennial MVP candidate. A Draymond Green/LeBron James hybrid.

Nope. He’s an Australian 7-foot Elfrid Payton who is unplayable in the 4th quarter because he is terrified of the free throw line so he stops playing with any aggression out of fear that he’ll be fouled.

The patience is gone. Joel Embiid is out there dropping 37 points and 13 rebounds with a torn meniscus. It was supposed to be Joel and Ben as two All-NBA level talents running the East for a decade and somehow it’s Joel and Seth Curry vs. The Other Team and Ben Simmons.

Ben Simmons has made 22 of his 67 free-throw attempts (33%) during the playoffs.

Seth Curry has made 32 of his 67 three-point attempts (48%) during the playoffs.

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) June 17, 2021

Like, fucking PRACTICE.

Jeff Green is out playing Ben Simmons in the playoffs. What is happening?

And after watching the Clippers hunt down Rudy Gobert in their series, I am realizing that regular season defensive player of the year means nothing in the playoffs. Ben Simmons came in 2nd place for DPOY and that doesn’t even matter. His defense means nothing when he is such a black hole on offense.

I no longer have any positive to say about this loser. Philadelphia needs to trade him before Game 6 even starts. Maybe they can get back a late 2nd round draft pick or cash considerations.