Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers doesn't care about the Washington Wizards' Hack-a-Ben strategy. After all, he knows how good and important Ben Simmons is to the team.
On Monday, the Wizards executed the Hack-a-Ben tactic to perfection, as they saw Simmons finish 5-of-11 from the charity stripe. It also allowed Washington to pull off a crucial 122-114 Game 4 win, with the Australian being a non-factor in the contest with just 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field.
While Simmons' struggles were clear early on, Rivers apparently never thought of pulling his playmaker out of the game. Why would he? Rivers has full belief on Simmons and his ability to impact the game in other areas.
“No. You want me to take Ben Simmons off the floor?” the Sixers coach responded when asked if he thought of taking Simmons out of Game 4 because of the Wizards' strategy, per Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype.
“Let me pass on that one. He’s pretty good. I’ll pass on that suggestion.”
There's a reason the Wizards' are trying to keep fouling Ben Simmons. After Monday's game, the Sixers star is now shooting 25 percent in the playoff series.
However, Doc Rivers has a good point. His lack of free throw shooting aside, Simmons is a crucial gear in the mechanism of the Sixers offense. Simply put, the team's attack won't be as dynamic without him in the fold.
The Sixers were a bit unlucky to lose Embiid early to a knee issue, but should he return in Game 5, it doesn't look like the Hack-a-Ben strategy will be as effective as it was in Game 4. If JoJo doesn't return, though, it's up to Rivers to find ways for the team to alleviate the pressure on the 24-year-old All-Star.
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