Philadelphia 76ers rookie Ben Simmons said he was “overthinking” on the court when he scored only one point in 31 minutes in a Game 2 loss to the Boston Celtics on Thursday night.
The Rookie of the Year race has been one of the biggest stories of the 2017-18 NBA season, and it will all be decided on June 25th. This could be a big one in determining who will win the award.
“I think it was mainly what I did to myself,” Simmons said after failing to score a field goal for the first time in his 87-game career. “Mentally, I was thinking too much, overthinking the plays. Wasn’t just out there, flowing, playing the way that I play, which is free.
Simmons said his struggles were “self-inflicted.”
“Mental, thinking too much,” the Rookie of the Year candidate said after setting a career low for points. “I think the way the Heat played [against Simmons in the first round], it was nothing compared to the Celtics. Physically, the Heat were on another level.”
"It was mainly what I did to myself. I think mentally, I was thinking too much."
Ben Simmons on his struggles in Game 2.#GameTime pic.twitter.com/xPgzKo7mTd
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 4, 2018
Brown defended his decision to ride with Simmons to reporters after the game:
"I think he's the rookie of the year."
Brett Brown on his trust with Ben Simmons.#GameTime pic.twitter.com/ya3ofC6ZYu
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 4, 2018
The Philadelphia Sixers now face an 0-2 hole, with the next two games in Philadelphia. Simmons better do some soul searching, because putting up one point in a playoff game is not acceptable.
