The Sixers cataclysmic loss to the Hawks in Game 5 spotlighted Ben Simmons shortcomings in a big way. After another abysmal night at the free throw line and not attempting a single shot in the fourth quarter, Jon Ritchie didn't hold back on what he thought about Simmons and his future with the Sixers.
"Ben's fear of sucking is proliferating right now," said Ritchie on Thursday morning. "And that's another thing: this cements Ben's departure. If there was any question previously, there is no question any longer. Please, stop denying the obvious, the inevitable. The worst part is, Ben's stock couldn't be lower and you are going to have to trade him anyways.
"Ben has shown zero commitment to improve in five years. He knows it's necessary - he posts those videos to assuage us essentially - but he doesn't do what is required to win, which is work and change and improve. He skates by year after year and is told it's ok, it's good enough. No, it's not good enough for professional basketball! Really, the postseason continues to prove this out. Now, last year it didn't because he was hurt, so we didn't see this falling by the wayside."
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Simmons absence in important moments this postseason cannot be ignored. The Sixers point guard has not attempted a shot in the last two fourth quarters against the Hawks, and his league-worst 32.8% FT% has been detrimental over the three losses in the Hawks series.
"There is a lot of blame to go around in the fourth quarter last night," said Joe DeCamara, "but [Simmons] free throw shooting accelerated the whole thing. I mean, 4-14 from the line is beyond belief… if I was Joel Embiid, I would be out of my mind.
"There is a reason why we kept talking about Ben's deficiencies," continued DeCamara. "Not because we wanted to dwell on the negative these last few weeks and months. It's because so many of us kept saying to everyone else, wait until the games get real in the playoffs."