NFL
By: Rob Botts
The Uber Eats delivery driver screeches up to the front of Well Fargo Center in Philadelphia and quickly gathers his two bags of Mcdonald’s goodies, rushes through security, and makes this way into the practice area of the NBA 76ers. He wipes the beads of sweat from his forehead and scans the practice floor for his client who has ordered this golden arches bonanza. The players are running up and down the court doing their drills as head coach Doc Rivers looks annoyed as he notices the delivery man. Consternated, disappointed, and above all irritated, he points over to the corner of the gym. Bingo! The Uber Eats driver sees his cash cow and he rushes over him!
He approaches the one and only Ben Simmons. The former all-star prompted fellow star and teammate Joel Embiid and coach Doc Rivers to both question if they could win it all with a player like him. A man who had a WIDE OPEN lay up in the playoffs in game 7 against the upstart Atlanta Hawks AT HOME and he passed it off to a teammate who only made one of two free throws as opposed to a SLAM DUNK for a guaranteed two points. The only slam-dunking Ben is doing as of late is slamming delivery food specials while nursing his “hurt” back, neck, arms, legs, feet, fingers, ears, eyelids, hair follicles, eyebrows, fingernails, kneecaps, ankles, and most importantly his ego and PRIDE.
BEN: “Place that good stuff right here my man.”
UBER EATS: “Thank you!”
BEN: “I like you. You’re my guy. I’m thinking Pizza for lunch…Be Ready.”
The Uber Eats guy’s phone dings and his eyes light up as he sees his super-sized tip amount. Ben winks at him.
President of Basketball Operations for Philly Daryl Morey strolls by and takes a gander at Ben.
MOREY: “4 years..That’s lots of ghost stats right there….”
Ben takes a supersize bite out of his Big Mac and points to his left ear.
BEN: “Sorry Daryl – looks like I’ve got some inner left ear tinnitus coming on – you’ll have to come around to my good ear..can’t hear you, buddy.”
Morey walks away in frustration. Not only were the 76ers hurt on the court by “hack-a-Ben” when it was deployed by other teams but now they are being hurt by “slack-a-Ben” by Mr. Simmons himself. “The strategy is being deployed from INSIDE the house!!!”
The above is about to become a daily delivery occurrence as Ben eats his grub while Joel Embiid and Doc Rivers will be continuing to eat their past words. Both sides are completely dug in. Undertakers, construction sites, and iron ore miners are less dug in than these two combatants. This situation is so unique and stands out from other hold-out, “move me”, team vs player disputes because of the type of player Simmons is and the type of issue that he has. BUT..the issue in my humble opinion seems to be possibly fixable by someone on some team in some desirable city. The good far outweighs the bad and the bad as I just mentioned, I believe is fixable.
Let me explain:
First, let’s define what fixable is on my option for this situation. I think Mr. Simmons, with the right help, could start being more consistent with his medium-range jumper and free throws. Yes we have all seen the video of Ben stroking 3s wide open in a gym with nobody in the same zip code. He took heat for the fact that THIS was the video that was supposed to impress us?? Any NBA player worth his salt can knock down some international water bombs when just standing and shooting.
Let’s take the good from that video as I am the ever optimist. His stroke looked good, didn’t it? Follow through looked pure? The raising of his arms look as they are in proper position – the release is on the proper side of his head – his off-hand doesn’t look like it is interfering with the other shooting hand – his release has a snap to it with the patented “duck/goose” neck at the end? Check – check – check – check. The issue? The result obviously. BUT – he is not needed to knock down three-point shots. Yes, the game is spread out and it is bombs away city but for Ben…Be the mid-range sniper and make them pay at the line. Yeah, it’s a FREE throw for YOU – not the other team!
Let’s also remember – yes I am talking to you next in line to have Ben wearing your jersey – he is a multiple-time all-star who is incredibly athletic and is consistently one of the best defenders in the NBA who is a potential triple or quadruple-double threat every night he plays.
Ben then “limps” off the court and towards the trainer’s room as he tosses his empty food bag in the nearby trash can. Doc Rivers notices and leans his way.
RIVERS: “Are you hungry Ben?”
BEN: “Just ate coach..I’m good. Did you want me to order you anything?”
Rivers: “Are you hungry to play?”
Ben: “For people that want to play with me? You bet coach. You bet.”
Now it’s all about who will be taking that bet on Ben.
