I have nothing against Brooklyn, I love KD, I love their arena. I have not rooted for a team from Philly to win anything since I left in 1982. Worst four years of my life. Hated Philadelphia. But, of course, I was rooting for them tonight. The Ben-mare. I was surprised and happy when Philly got off to a hot start, 20-6, 6:56 1Q. The quarter ended "Sixers" up 34-28. It was 7 at HT, 6 after three. "Nets," in fact didn't lead, nor were even tied, until :48 left in the game. They had a big 4Q as you'd expect with Kevin and James. Outscored Philly by 11.
BenMare was in the "Sixers' practice facility for a nanosecond yesterday, complained of a "sore back", which you can get just standing and not moving. Today he had a meeting with "Sixers" brass and informed them that he was "not mentally prepared" to play at this particular juncture in the rent fabric of space time. Well, duh. You're a coward, you're a head case, and you're scared the "Sixers" crowd is going to make you sad. Hilarious sub-story on that. The "Flyers" hockey team played in the building they share with the "Sixers" earlier this week and, quoting AP,
...got profanely loud toward Simmons...
So, that would be "FUCK BEN SIMMONS! clap x5, repeat. At the HOCKEY game! Sheesh! Lol. So, the "Sixers" sent Joel Embiid out to address the fans before the basketball game tonight: AP:
Embiid thanked the fans for coming after having to stay home most of last season amid the pandemic and asked they support Simmons because "he's still our brother." The crowd listened and no sustained chants of any substance ever developed.
That's sweet.
Problem is--"not mentally prepared", though obvious bullshit Plan B when sore back didn't cut the Philly cheese--but the problem is BenMare needs to get paid and missing a game for mental unwellness is in the CBA as an excused absence, i.e. with pay. He and his agent researched that.
It sure would have been nice to see Phila win tonight without BenMare but problem is--the coward has got game, three-time all star and all-defensive team, and the "Sixers" don't have his game right now. The "Sixers" couldn't buy a bucket for a stretch in the 4Q which enabled BKLYN to climb back in and get on top. AP's capsule on what the "Sixers" missed tonight:
They could have used Simmons' defense to shut down the Nets late.
Ah, there's the rub.
