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Ben Simmons had by far the worst playoff game of his young career in a Game 2 loss against the Celtics on Thursday, falling victim of a hawking defense that kept him hesitant and dubious of his decisions, mustering only a lone point with an 0-for-4 line throughout the game.
Simmons noted this poor performance was mainly self-inflicted, but not before parting a shot to the Celtics' defense.
Article Continues Below“I think first series — [the Celtics] have nothing — the way the Heat played, it was nothing compared to the Celtics,” said Simmons, according to Tom Westerholm of MassLive. “Physically, the Heat were on another level. But yeah, I think it was self-inflicted for myself. Personally, my own game. Team-wise, I think we made too many errors when we had that lead and we need to stay on it.”
Simmons hesitated time and time again, no longer the free-will, snow-balling point-forward the Sixers have come to know over the stretch of an 82-game season.
“It was mainly what I did to myself,” Simmons said. “I think mentally, I was thinking too much, over-thinking the plays. I wasn't jusst out there flowing, playing the way that I play, which is free. I think obviously I know what their game plan is. I have to play my game.”
Besides his poor offensive showing, Simmons managed to snatch five boards and dish out seven assists, but had five turnovers — racking up a total of 12 during his first two games of the series, as the Sixers go back home, hoping to climb out of an 0-2 hole.
