Has “The Process” come to an end for the Sixers?
Following the Philadelphia 76ers‘ 103-96 loss in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night, fans and analysts alike have called for the breakup of franchise cornerstones Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. After an MVP-caliber season from Embiid and a stellar individual playoff run for the big man, the support for the Cameroonian is solid, but Philadelphia appears fed up, and done with Simmons.
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Simmons and Embiid couldn’t believe it.
From the non-existent jump shot to his notorious free throw shooting struggles through this postseason, trade rumors and demands are flying for the former three-time All-Star and 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year.
Doc Rivers on Guard’s Future: ‘I Don’t Know the Answer to That Question’
GettyAtlanta Hawks forward Danilo Gallinari guards Philadelphia 76ers point guard Ben Simmons during Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Simmons did his thing passing and rebounding the ball, while playing terrific defense, but the scoring, in particular the historically abysmal free throw shooting, wore on fans and Philadelphia followers and has been the primary attack in the rumors and demands for a summertime trade.
Ben Simmons 4th quarter this series:
Game 1: 2-2 FG
Game 2: 0-0 FG
Game 3: 1-1 FG
Game 4: 0-0 FG
Game 5: 0-0 FG
Game 6: 0-0 FG
Game 7: 0-0 FG
Ben Simmons:
8 points in Game 5
6 points in Game 6
5 points in Game 7 (benched in the final minutes)
I’m sure the Sixers would hate selling low on an elite, phenomenal defensive player – but not sure if running it back with the same group is an enticing option either…
Rivers on if he still believes Simmons can be a title winning point guard: “I don’t know the answer to that question right now.”
New York Times NBA reporter Marc Stein feels that given Simmons’ age and solid attributes in other aspects of the game, a trade could do wonders for the former number one overall pick.
Former 76ers legend Charles Barkley called out Simmons’ for what he perceived as a fear of scoring on “Inside the NBA”.
“You can’t have a guy on the court who’s afraid to shoot the basketball.”
Chuck on Ben Simmons’ shooting struggles in Game 7
(via @NBAonTNT)
With a minimum of 70 attempts, Ben Simmons’ 34.2% free throw percentage this postseason is the worst in a postseason in NBA history.
Simmons nearly won the Defensive Player of the Year award this season and posted four triple-doubles this year, but clearly still has a lot of work to do to have a better all-around game.
Simmons Gives up an Open Dunk for Ill-Advised Pass
GettyAtlanta Hawks center Clint Capela guards Philadelphia 76ers point guard Ben Simmons.
At one point midway through the fourth quarter and the Sixers holding a one-point lead, Simmons appeared to have a wide-open lay-in or dunk, but, perhaps overthinking the situation, dished off to Matisse Thybulle. The second-year guard received the dish from Simmons and was fouled in the act of shooting, but instead of an automatic two points, the Sixers had to settle for a split pair of free throws.
Ben Simmons did not just pass this up…
here is Joel Embiid’s reaction when Ben Simmons passed up the wide open dunk
“I’ll be honest, I thought the turning point was you know when we — I don’t know how to say it, but I thought the turning point was when we had an open shot and we made one free throw and we missed the other and then they came down and scored,” Embiid said.
The Sixers have three unrestricted free agents heading into the off-season with Danny Green, Mike Scott, and Dwight, but it seems that right now, the biggest rumors will be surrounding their number one overall pick from 2016.
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Sixers’ Game 7 Loss vs. Hawks Prompts Ben Simmons Trade Rumors