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There’s no love lost between the Philadelphia 76ers faithful and Ben Simmons. The former Sixer has been subjected to boos and name-calling from Philly fans after forcing his way out of Philly.
In tonight’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, Simmons had to endure this:
“F**k Ben Simmons.”
Wells Fargo Center erupted with the same chant in his first game back against his former team back on Nov. 22. Most of those were short-lived as Joel Embiid wasn’t around due to an injury.
The fans were livelier and more vicious this time as “The Process” was available to share the same floor as Ben Simmons as opponents. In the game’s first possession and if right on cue, the two former teammates were promptly matched up.
Embiid’s first touch seemed to send a bolt of energy to the Philadelphia 76ers fans. If they weren’t loud before during the introductions, they were certainly blaring just seconds into the game.
Doc Rivers likened the atmosphere to a boxing match where the crowd was just egging Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons to just slug it out. Fortunately, there was no such commotion, but the superstar center repeatedly stared down the Brooklyn Nets’ starting point guard on several occasions.
On Simmons’ first visit to Philly last November, he told the media after the game that he was a little disappointed. He thought that the crowd would be louder than what happened.
The Australian got that tonight as fans of the City of Brother Love let him know how they felt about him loudly and raucously. The animosity between the two seemed to spread to the entire roster of both teams. Six technical fouls combined were called in the game.
Georges Niang, who tried to get under Ben Simmons’ skin in their first meeting, also did the same thing. Niang flexed and shouted with Simmons right beside him, prompting the former No. 1 pick to respond with a shove. The crowd loved it and gave their former star another dose of boos and catcalls.
Simmons and James Harden, who were traded for each other, also had a testy encounter in the first half. “The Beard” didn’t like Simmons’ aggressive defense and flailed with his arms to fish for a foul.
The Philadelphia 76ers seem to have won the Ben Simmons for James Harden trade
The Brooklyn Nets are paying Ben Simmons $35.4 million this season. He is averaging 7.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.5 steals. Simmons is hopeless from deep and is hitting just 43.4% of his attempts from the free-throw line.
Brooklyn also can’t trade him because of how he has become and how massive his salary is. He is owed roughly $78 million after this season. Teams know that they can get someone who can get Simmons’ kind of production for a fraction of the cost.
Even if he’s healthy, the former All-Star might never regain his old form until he improves his mental fortitude, according to Charles Barkley.
James Harden, meanwhile, is no longer the Houston Rockets Harden who terrorized opponents with his wizardry on offense. But in the context of Philly’s plan and strategy, he has become crucial to their success as their main playmaker.
Tonight, “The Beard” took over in the fourth quarter to carry the 76ers to victory. Simmons, on the other hand, was sidelined as he usually shrinks when pressure and intensity are at their peak.
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