Jared Dudley brought this upon himself. The Brooklyn Nets forward, to be clear, was right about Ben Simmons' effectiveness diminishing in the halfcourt. He only has so many avenues to create points as a primary playmaker when the game bogs down, and is something close to a complete liability when the ball is in someone else's hands. As incendiary as Dudley's assessment was, it hardly broke new ground in terms of analysis of Simmons' flaws.
But to bring up Simmons' deficiencies in such a frank manner, in the middle of a postseason series? Dudley took a calculated risk that his criticism would contribute to Simmons' further struggles rather than wake him from a relative slumber that was always overblown in the first place. And unfortunately for the Nets, Dudley's gamble ultimately paid off for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Simmons scored 31 points, grabbed four rebounds, doled out nine assists, swiped two steals, and blocked three shots in perhaps the finest performance of his postseason career. He also became only the second player this decade to notch at least 30 points and nine assists in a playoff game before his 23rd birthday, joining Derrick Rose. Not bad for a guy featured on multiple “missing” posters throughout Brooklyn, right?
Simmons even had the opportunity to throw some shade at Dudley during the game, too. After Dudley was called for a foul on a jump-shooting J.J. Redick late in the third quarter, with Philadelphia up 90-76, Simmons had some fun at his counterpart's expense with a trolling smirk as Dudley complained to officials.
Reminder: Never poke the bear.
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