Philly Homecoming: Sixers Twitter reacts to Ben Simmons playing ‘victim’

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Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets

Ben Simmons has a back injury and won’t be on the field Thursday night on his memorable return to Philadelphia. That was expected. Here’s the turning point: Simmons is planning to take the road trip and sit on the bench of the Brooklyn Nets, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

“Simmons was working on his debut for the Nets as he went up after dealing with back pain,” Charania said“And I would say there is some optimism about the possibility of a return to work later this month.”

The three-time All-Star championship that left the Sixers awkward stems from his poor play in the playoffs last year. Simmon’s special moment came when he passed a wide pitch in Game 7 against Atlanta. From there, things spiraled out of control when Aussie requested the transaction while citing mental health issues. He feels disrespected by Joel Embiid and Doc Rivers.

Simmons was eventually sent the package to the Nets in exchange for James Harden. March 10 will mark his first trip to the Wells Fargo Center since the split. He’ll sit on the bench while the basketball world’s eyes are on Philly and the city’s rabid fan base.

The boos will subside, but what else? How will the TV camera handle the broadcast? Will someone with a random finger throw something at Simmons? Or, will Sixers fans flip the script and cheer wildly for the defender of their old starting point? Everything is on the table. Especially in the face of the national media’s disdain for Philly.

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Sixers Twitter reacts to the latest developments

Many assumed that Simmons would skip the Sixers-Nets game. He won’t be playing and he certainly won’t show his face in the Wells Fargo Center. Well, it looks like Simmons has had a change of heart. That, or agent Rich Paul had his ear about making the ultimate public relations power move.

Simmons will look like sad victim sitting on a bench in Philly as all those taunts resounded from the rafters. It was a genius strategy. Memes flooded Twitter on Monday. Simmons is moving into the wasp nest and it could turn in his favor.

Smitty of Barstool Sports Do not buy Simmons actually show. He wrote: “Ben Simmons not playing but will be benched against the Sixers on March 10? Yeah… didn’t happen. There is no chance that Ben Simmons will ever set foot in Philly again. Zilch. Not available. Sorry, Shams. ”

Philly Voice’s Shamus Clancy was in favor of putting together a video clip of Simmons getting through the playoffs against Atlanta, then added: “Could have added some videos of him being intentionally fouled by the Wizards and proceeded to shoot 35 Shameful .7% from the charity strip.”

Sixers Host Bulls, Final Injury Report

Sixers Chicago Bulls organization tonight (March 7) in a battle between two of the top teams in the East. Philadelphia (39-24) holds the 2nd seed, while Chicago (39-25) sits in 4th. The Bulls eliminated three players for Monday night: Lonzo Ball (knee), Patrick Williams (wrist), Alex Caruso (wrist). And Bulls center Nikola Vucevic – who was selected to the first round of the Sixers in 2011 – is listed as questionable with a sore hamstring in the latest injury report.

The Sixers came into this match relatively healthy with Paul Millsap eliminated with an undisclosed injury. DeAndre Jordan is expected to make his Philly debut after joining the team on Saturday.