Sixers: 3 reasons Ben Simmons lost the fanbase
By Uriah Young
3 reasons Ben Simmons has lost the Sixers fanbase: Bad effort
Look, in Philly, the fans don’t ask for much. Winning is the goal, but try your best and leave your play on the court, and an athlete will at least be given the benefit of the doubt. Well, that went out the window after his poor performance in the Hawks series. The irony is that the Philly legend who embodied this concept, Allen Iverson, came out to ring the bell with Aaron Mckie, before Game 5.
Some of the most baffling regiments have had us scratching our heads for years now, and they fooled us into thinking he was putting his best foot forward.
If Simmons didn’t plan on shooting in games, what was the point of the pregame warm-up shots? What was the point of the work out videos in LA at upscale gyms? Were they to tease the fans? To shut up the critics and prove he could make some practice shots? Was it to justify to management that the talent is there if they just waited a little longer?
The truly maddening aspect of his effort in the postseason compared to a segment of the regular season is the weeks leading up to the All-Star Game. I am sure you remember that stretch. Simmons’ scoring increased, and he was even motivated enough against the Jazz to score 42 points, a career high, against Rudy Gobert.
This selfish burst of offensive production can be attributed to his goal of making another All-Star Game. Yet, when he was needed most in the postseason, he simply disappeared.
The final thing I will say about his effort is that his response after being upset in the second round was tepid. It came off as though it was not a big deal. His lack of concern for how he played and how it impacted the team should have caused the Rocky statue to implode. Someone please check the Art Museum.
In the city of Philadelphia, you have to perform well, or at least wear your emotions on your sleeve to gain respect. It is the passion and grit from players like Chase Utley, Allen Iverson, Nick Foles, and Brian Dawkins that make Philly such a blue collar town to play in as an athlete. If Simmons can’t admit disdain for his own poor effort, then maybe he needs to grow more heart.