One is loneliest number for Simmons and Fultz
BOSTON » Before the Sixers’ 108-103 loss to the Boston Celtics Thursday, Markelle Fultz was already playing from behind.
Earlier in the day on ESPN, the Sixers’ rookie was the subject of a fly-by criticism from, of all Sixers legends, Julius Erving.
“Jayson Tatum probably should have been the first pick in the draft,” Erving said. “He was there. I guess it was all about the fit. We took Fultz. Philly took Fultz. Obviously his rookie year, I think he’ll be a rookie again next year, sort of like (Ben) Simmons, because of all the injuries.”
So the Sixers were under attack, almost from within, for making Fultz the last No. 1 overall pick.
By night’s end, their previous No. 1 overall pick was under some heat too.
Being stood up defensively by the physical Celtics, Ben Simmons was limited to one point in 30:50 of playing time. He had five turnovers, five rebounds and seven assists, well below a pace that had left him as the presumptive Rookie of the Year.
“Mental,” was Simmons’ explanation. “Just thinking too much.
“That’s the thing,” he added. “I am going to have bad games. Obviously, it’s not the perfect timing. But you head home now and we have two home games to take care of business. We have the coaching staff and the players to do it.”
One of those players was T.J. McConnell, who won back the backup point guard spot after a late-season audition from Fultz and scored eight points in 17:12 Thursday. As he often had all season, McConnell was keeping the Sixers competitive even after they had lost a 22-point first-half lead. Just the same, Brett Brown went back to Simmons for the stretch. And the Sixers stalled again.
“The decision is do you go with T.J. still, or do you come back to Ben Simmons?” Brown said. “I am coming back to Ben Simmons. I’m coming back to Ben. He has had a great year. I think he is the Rookie of the Year. He is going to have to learn to play in these environments. And I am coming Simmons.”
Brown, though, has shown no inclination to return to Fultz, who played four games, sat out 68 with a shoulder issue, then played the final 10 in the regular season. Early in the Miami series, though, he seemed overwhelmed. When Tatum, the No. 3 overall pick in the last draft scored 28 in Game 1, it opened the draft to a public audit. When he scored 21 Thursday as the Celts took a 2-0 series lead, it seems it’ll stay that way.
“It didn’t bother me,” said Fultz, who has met Erving in the past. “If anything, it will motivate me.” back to Ben