Sixers: 3 reasons Ben Simmons lost the fanbase

Now that we have all had time to digest what happened to the Sixers against the Hawks, it is time to go under the surface of one of the worst playoff performances in NBA history. The apparent culprit is Ben Simmons. His consequence? A trade to any team that is willing to take him, ideally a small-market, bottom-dwelling team as far away from the glitz and glamour he yearns for most. Before we excavate fresh artifacts from Simmons’ past seasons in Philadelphia, allow me to vent.

For all of the Ben Simmons enablers, I mean supporters, still remaining, here is a news flash — in the current NBA, it is imperative that you be a decent player on both sides of the ball. It is not like the NFL, where you play offense or defense. If Simmons were a cornerback or safety, perhaps he’d thrive without much criticism since he seems content playing defense. Well, this is the NBA, and he’s not being paid almost $30 million to simply stop another player from scoring.

If he is dealing with personal issues, he is human, and perhaps fans would share empathy. However, that being unexpressed, his apathy in press conferences is just a smack in the face to the fanbase, and at this point exasperation in this town has morphed into the most potent anger I have seen in my forty years as a sports fan.

Now, let’s dive deeper into the enigma Philadelphia has been forced to endure since 2016.

There are three specific reasons why Ben Simmons has lost all favor in the eyes of Philly sports fans. The horrific loss in game 7 to Atlanta stung, and his insipid contribution has sparked outrage and contempt in the hearts of Sixer fans. We must start with the attitude problem that has hindered his growth.

3 reasons Ben Simmons has lost the Sixers fanbase: Poor attitude

Over the course of his time in Philly, Ben Simmons has talked a good talk. He expressed his desire to get better and how he would improve. In a city like this though, talk is cheap. As the years progressed, his focus became singular, where his need to insert a perimeter game into his offense never materialized. How is this even possible when he had shooters and scorers who could have helped him with his shot?

With the right attitude toward improving his jump shot, he could have reached out to J.J. Redick and even Jimmy Butler for pointers. Extra time after practice, allowing the technique and work ethic of players like Redick, Butler, and even Tobias Harris could have gone a long way. Instead, he is seen after practice shooting 3-pointers with Dwight Howard. Are you serious?

His assumption is that he is good enough without a jumper. If this was the truth, we would have won the Hawks series, right? Well, chickens have come home to roost, and the lack of perimeter shot attempts in the regular season did nothing to help his confidence. The attitude that his defensive tenacity should appease fans was a faulty approach. Why didn’t his coaches try and get through to him and at least challenge him more?

Oops, my bad. They actually did. Do we recall when Brett Brown publicly lauded Simmons for making 3-pointers two seasons ago against the Knicks and Cavs, and in a press conference shared that he hoped Simmons would shoot one per game? I remember it clearly.

I also remember how many attempts he took after his coach encouraged Simmons to do something that would help the team in the long run. He shot zero 3-pointers the rest of the season. This defiance of a coach’s wishes is probably what Stephen A. Smith referred to recently when it comes to Simmons’ unwillingness to listen.

At the end of the day, Simmons has no interest or desire to improve his scoring. It is quite evident. He has told the fanbase, “I am who I am. It is what it is.” I am sorry, but that attitude absolutely will not cut it in Philly. You are basically telling millions of people that you are not willing to do what you need to do to help the team win. If he had any sort of grit or a care in the world about winning, he would adopt the mentality of Kobe Bryant or his mentor, LeBron James. Right now, Simmons does not have either, and I cannot imagine he ever will.

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.

3 reasons Ben Simmons has lost the Sixers fanbase: No heart

Without confidence, it is impossible to play professional sports. For Simmons, he got there, but somehow that confidence has left him. Who knows how or when diffidence crept into his game and laid eggs, but Simmons’ play has become as thin as Trae Young’s hair. Speaking of Trae Young…

At a game two seasons ago, I was in the stands of the Wells Fargo Center, and at the time Simmons was playing small. I stood up and yelled, “ You’re 6-10, Ben!” Did he hear me? Who knows. My frustration that game was so high that I felt the need to remind him that he was one of the biggest and strongest players on the court. Essentially, he was playing like he was almost a foot shorter. It was as if he played at Trae Young’s stature, but without the heart.

Can you imagine if Simmons had the heart of Trae Young or even his own teammate, Tyrese Maxey? At Game 5 in the Atlanta series, I witnessed Maxey get a standing ovation as he entered the game for the first time. He replaced Simmons, and the irony is that Maxey could very well take over starting point guard duties in the near future. Ever wonder why Maxey is already a beloved figure on the Sixers? You guessed it — the kid has heart.

It is the same heart that Allen Iverson played with. The comparison might be a stretch right now, but in terms of sheer determination, Maxey’s play parallels Iverson. Although one might expect a taller, faster, and more athletic Simmons to attack NBA defenses like a battering ram, we have seen how timid he has become. Moving forward, this is a serious problem.

The problem is not that he lost confidence because, essentially, he could gain it back. It is that Simmons has been given chance after chance to show heart, especially in the playoffs when teams tighten their defense and dare him to shoot. I cannot imagine this city forgiving him after passing the ball to Matisse Thybulle instead of dunking on Trae Young’s head. That shot would have tied the game.

At this point, Simmons needs to question his competitive drive. For the 76ers organization, it is probably too late to see if he does anything about it.

Sixers can no longer wait on Ben Simmons

The lobby is closed. The lights have been turned off. Everyone has left the building. Patience is about as nonexistent as his jumpershot. It is over for Ben Simmons in Philly.

Dwight Howard can defend him on social media every day this offseason if it makes him feel good. The thing is, Dwight, we’ve been through this three years in a row! If anything, teammates need to stop babying him and hold him accountable. To be the second-highest paid player on the Sixers, he should expect more from himself.

We went through the Process long before Howard arrived, and we may never get another championship shot again like we had this season. With Joel Embiid’s torn meniscus, we don’t know how he will heal. What we do know is that while injured, he played valiantly in the playoffs, while Simmons pulled a blanket over his head and hid in a corner.

In this town, you need to have the right attitude, effort, and heart. This franchise has tradition too rooted in those virtues to be ignored. The time to cut ties is now. This fanbase has supported Simmons despite his shooting woes for too long and to our championship aspirations’ demise. Whatever the future holds for Ben Simmons, ideally it won’t be in Philly