Sincerely not trying to troll RE Ben Simmons Future. But...

[sawick48]

the play is one thing.  Everybody has off games. Tough to say superstars have off series ever (even a teenage Kobe rectified his poor play in the same series) but regardless of where you stand, I sincerely wonder the following about Ben Simmons:

If he doesn't show up at all this series; isn't there a very real chance this derails his career?  Not in a "he's a bad player" way, but I just feel like the idea of "Ben Simmons - 4th Quarter closer" is being murdered from ever having a chance to appear in the NBA, unless he plays big at some point in the rest of this series.

I get there's no way to quantify it, and my guess is as good as anybody/nobody else's.  But his body language has been truly awful. And sure you can say it's that he's a rookie and so young but, just look at an even younger Tatum across the court from him.  When he misses big FTs in the waning seconds, you can't tell. And it's because he's so young that I refuse to believe this won't stay with him. Remember when you were 20? How faux confident were you? Brave face to the world but anxiety for days on the inside.

Idk. I'm rambling. And again, am projecting based on nothing. But this just feels like a colossal moment in the present and future of Ben Simmons' career coming up in the next week.

[CelticsElite]

Good.
That's what they get for bragging all year.  After game 1 Simmons gave no respect to us and said the 76ers were the better team. Good one ahha

[sawick48]

Good.
That's what they get for bragging all year.  After game 1 Simmons gave no respect to us and said the 76ers were the better team. Good one ahha

Right well I mean we all knew that was absurd. A brash 6ers team w/ no real leader wasn't going to demolish Brad Stevens. Foolish to even speak otherwise.

[Roy H.]

It depends on how mentally strong he is. He’s easily talented enough to bounce back, if his head is in the right place.

[cltc5]

He’s all hype.  They want so bad for him to be the next lebron

[footey]

Stevens seems to have figured out a way to really diminish his effectiveness which other NBA coaches will try to copy, using length and strength to stymie his game, and prevent transitional offense. If his outside shooting does not improve, his tag as a future all Pro will be removed. If he continues to rack up triple doubles, I suppose he will eventually make the all star game.

I feel the absence of veteran leadership would also help him. Guys like Redick are not of the same cloth as guys like Al Horford in that department. He could really use some mentoring.

He played better in game 3 than game 2, for what it’s worth. Thought Brett Brown’s post game comments were spot on.

[Surferdad]

...
 this just feels like a colossal moment in the present and future of Ben Simmons' career coming up in the next week.

I agree and I feel like the damage has now been done with Game 3.  This was the moment, at home, when the Sixers were supposed to turn it around and follow it with a Game 4 win to tie up the series.  Now, it doesn't even matter about Game 4.  Sixers likely win that, but then lose Game 5, and Ben Simmons will be mentally-damaged goods.  It will be a long time before he lives this one down and will be tagged as "can't win in the big moments" kind of guy.

[tarheelsxxiii]

...
 this just feels like a colossal moment in the present and future of Ben Simmons' career coming up in the next week.

I agree and I feel like the damage has now been done with Game 3.  This was the moment, at home, when the Sixers were supposed to turn it around and follow it with a Game 4 win to tie up the series.  Now, it doesn't even matter about Game 4.  Sixers likely win that, but then lose Game 5, and Ben Simmons will be mentally-damaged goods.  It will be a long time before he lives this one down and will be tagged as "can't win in the big moments" kind of guy.

He's 21 years old, blessed with all the gifts of a great player, and just ran up against the most well-run and coached organization in the league.  Given how the Celts played on both ends, it'd be surprising if he didn't get a serious gut check.  I questioned his mentality at LSU as much as any one, but this series does not define his career by any stretch.     

[celts55]

He's 21. Last night he had 18, 8 & 8. That's not terrible.
I don't see him as the next Labron, but if and it's a big if, he develops a shot he could certainly be a long time all star.
After all, how many Labrons are there.
I certainly wouldn't write him off at this point.

[Neurotic Guy]

Overall, he looks awfully good to me.  I’ll be surprised  if he isn’t an all-star next year.

[Celtics4ever]

As I often say there is a reason that Simmons and Fultz 's college teams were not dominant and didn't make the NCAA tourney....

[Erik]

He’s a stats padder. How many of those rebounds did he fight for? How many of those assists were rondo assists? Or did he just pass the ball to Redick and he makes a few dribbles and jacks up a 3 that happens to go in? Don’t just look at the stats for professional padders. He offers nothing in a half court set.

There is a pretty good chance that If TJ McConnell is playing his minutes that we’re down 2-1.

[Eja117]

Give me Tatum

[SHAQATTACK]

Good.
That's what they get for bragging all year.  After game 1 Simmons gave no respect to us and said the 76ers were the better team. Good one ahha

low IQ ...to come to that conclusion period

[Sophomore]

...
 this just feels like a colossal moment in the present and future of Ben Simmons' career coming up in the next week.

I agree and I feel like the damage has now been done with Game 3.  This was the moment, at home, when the Sixers were supposed to turn it around and follow it with a Game 4 win to tie up the series.  Now, it doesn't even matter about Game 4.  Sixers likely win that, but then lose Game 5, and Ben Simmons will be mentally-damaged goods.  It will be a long time before he lives this one down and will be tagged as "can't win in the big moments" kind of guy.

He's 21 years old, blessed with all the gifts of a great player, and just ran up against the most well-run and coached organization in the league.  Given how the Celts played on both ends, it'd be surprising if he didn't get a serious gut check.  I questioned his mentality at LSU as much as any one, but this series does not define his career by any stretch.   

Agree with tarheels.

Plus, next year Simmons should have a new coach, who might set a different tone and help in this area.