Ben Simmons back as a player in Philadelphia, it’s coming soon. During the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, Benny will find his old garden. Inevitably, he is no longer welcome and Philly fans will be delighted to remind him as soon as he drags his carcass out of the locker room. A timely reunion given the recent form of the Australian.
« Ben Simmons from downtown for the wiiiin ». Yes, we dream of it, it is not forbidden. Imagine the dose of salt that would fall on the Wells Fargo Center if Benny were to slam a buzzer beater from the refreshment bar. We can already see him celebrating – to boos from dumbfounded fans – as he climbs onto the scorer’s table as Joel Embiid pulls out the ax hidden in his sock. Since the announcement of the official schedule for the 2022-23 NBA season, on November 22nd is a date ticked, circled, bombarded… in red by Sixers fans, quite simply, because it corresponds to the return of Ben Simmons to Philadelphia.
It is not the first time that the city of brotherly love has seen its favorite Australian once more, last March the native of Melbourne had already noted the hatred caused by his presence in Pennsylvania: inglorious t-shirts, names of birds, monster noise… an already very hostile starter-pack, although Benny kept smiling thanks to the victory of his people. This year, the situation is not the same. Ben Simmons is back as a player and each of his possessions will come with an above average dose of decibels. Well before that, he will have to make his way to the entrance to the locker room and there too, we risk not being disappointed. It’s well known, Philly fans are not altar boysthey are passionate people who will give everything to spoil the evening of the first pick 2016. The Australian is aware of this and knows what to expect. In press conference following the Nets’ victory tonight, the former member of Trust the Process laughed when a reporter assumed Sixers fans were leaving him alone: “In Philly? Come on, I know what’s going to happen.”
Reporter: « Is there any chance in your mind that maybe enough time has passed that it won’t be so bad… »
Ben Simmons: « In Philly? Come on now. I know what’s coming! » ????#NBATwitter pic.twitter.com/Hk1YIzYmOT
— ????????????????????????’ ???????????? (@_Talkin_NBA) November 21, 2022
Ben Simmons is not the last rainy day, earplugs are recommended, as is a decent performance if he does not want to spend the worst night of his life once morest his former franchise. For this, the point forward must remain in line with its last three outings. Tonight once morest the Grizzlies, the left-hander had his best game of the season with 22 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists in 35 minutes of play.
Ben Simmons put up a season-high 22 PTS while shooting 84.6% from the field to lead the @BrooklynNets to victory! #NetsWorld
???? @BenSimmons25: 22 PTS (11-13 FGM) | 8 REB | 5 AST pic.twitter.com/ELBiNYsZFw
— NBA (@NBA) November 21, 2022
It must be said that the relationship between Benny and Philly ended in blood sausage. We remember the incredible soap opera from September 2021 to February 2022. Unjustified absences, hefty fines, a difficult mind to decide… Benny acted up and even trained with his phone in his pocket. In short, everything was in place to close a chapter of four seasons in the worst possible way. However, before the famous 2021 Playoffs and Game 7 once morest Atlanta, history was still “salvageable”. But the basketball gods – and Ben Simmons especially – have decided otherwise. Which brings us to this famous night from Tuesday to Wednesday when at 1:30 a.m., Philly fans will redouble their stratagems to greet a former member of the house. Inevitably, it’s enticing and inevitably, something will happen. Because in addition to Benny and his detractors, we will also find on the ground Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Joel Embiid. The Cameroonian is in sparkling form, no one doubts that he too will want to send a message to his former teammate. On the balance sheet side, the Nets show a small 8-9 while Philadelphia is balanced 8-8… No need to draw a picture, a victory would do both teams a lot of good.
Ben Simmons will face the Sixers for the first time in Philadelphia. The public at the Wells Fargo Center will not give him a present and the voodoo dolls bearing the image of the Australian are surely snapping up like hot cakes at this time. If the streets of Philly are still calm, it’s simply because the storm is brewing.
Sources texte : Talkin’ NBA, NBA.
