Simmons the fall guy as 76ers flop

NBA PLAYOFFS

BEN Simmons is about to face the biggest test of his young, prolific and record-breaking career. Will he rise or fall? Critics of the young Australian have the knives out and the blades will be the sharpest in his adopted home city of Philadelphia if the 76ers are swept out of the playoffs by the Boston Celtics this morning.

Philly’s fervid fans fell in love with the 21-year-old during the regular season as he clocked up comparisons with Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson and in the firstround playoffs when he led the 76ers to a series win over the Miami Heat.

The sentiment is turning in a city that just watched the Philadelphia Eagles win the NFL’s Super Bowl and Villanova University claim the NCAA men’s basketball championship.

“Ben Simmons’ recklessness and overconfidence cost the Sixers in Game 3,” the headline in Sunday’s Philadelphia Inquirer blared.

After three successive losses to the Boston Celtics and the 76ers’ being on the brink of elimination, Simmons is now being ripped for ... rookie mistakes.

Simmons has been so good in his first year in the NBA he is judged as if he was a veteran All-Star, not a rookie.

In Thursday’s game-two loss in Boston he went AWOL and had just one point. Early in Saturday’s game three overtime loss in Philadelphia Simmons was playing well, but

Barty advances

QUEENSLAND’S Ashleigh Barty will face second seed Caroline Wozniacki in the second round of the Madrid Open after making light work of Sara Errani yesterday. Barty advanced to the showdown with the former world No.1 by beating the Italian Errani 6-1, 6-4 to join compatriot Samantha Stosur in the second round. Wozniacki progressed in straight sets at the expense of Daria Gavrilova. Stosur beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 7-6, 6-3 to set up a clash with Sloane Stephens. Two-time defending champion Simona Halep brushed aside Ekaterina Makarova 6-1, 6-0.

Park chips in to win