'Gutless': 76ers savagely trolled over $68m Ben Simmons backfire

Sports Reporter

Fri, 13 May 2022, 1:51 am·3-min read

James Harden (pictured), who was traded for Ben Simmons (pictured left), was mocked following his poor game for the 76ers in their elimination to the Miami Heat. (Getty Images)

NBA fans have used Ben Simmons' trade to let rip at the 76ers after new signing James Harden failed to shoot in the second-half of their playoff defeat.

Jimmy Butler was the star for Miami as he scored 32 points and waved "bye bye" to the Philly crowd as he sent the Miami Heat into the NBA's Eastern Conference finals with a 99-90 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 6.

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The Heat will play the winner of the Milwaukee-Boston series.

The defending champion Bucks lead that series 3-2, with Game 6 on Friday night in Milwaukee.

Butler was the standout performer and many fans took to social media to express their disbelief that the 76ers let the star go in 2019.

Furthermore, many mocked Harden's display following his trade with Simmons earlier in the season.

The former NBA MVP offered little in the second-half with zero points off two attempts.

James Harden has 0 points in his last two 4th quarters.

Ben Simmons had 3 points in his last two 4th quarters with the Sixers. pic.twitter.com/HrUNtzLowQ
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 13, 2022

Trading Ben Simmons for James Harden because you wanted someone who would actually shoot the ball just for him to attempt 8 shots in a must win game is the most unfortunate thing I’ve seen for Sixers Fans. I’d be so sick. At least Ben rebounded and Played Defense man 😭.
— HTB ♨️ (@HenryTheBlasian) May 13, 2022

Ben Simmons watching the Sixers demise pic.twitter.com/fGZ6cM8HAr
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) May 13, 2022

Ben Simmons and James Harden attempting the same number of second half shots in Philly's last two elimination games was the only way this could have ended.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) May 13, 2022

The Sixers chose Ben Simmons over Jimmy Butler. And then they moved Simmons for James Harden…

Who has been thoroughly outplayed by Butler. Tough.
— Alec Sturm (@Alec_Sturm) May 13, 2022

James Harden typically no-showed in the second half of this closeout game. Now he's mostly just another Jim Harden. Ben Simmons eventually will make this trade look so phoolish for Philly.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 13, 2022

Another gutless performance from James Harden in another huge legacy game.
— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) May 13, 2022

Harden has reportedly opted into his $68 million player option for next season.

Joel Embiid lets rip at 76ers teammates

Joel Embiid, the NBA scoring champion, scored 20 points for Philadelphia on seven-of-24 shooting.

Coming off a 35-point victory in Game 5, the Heat wore down a battered Sixers team.

Embiid remained to this day befuddled and hurt that the Sixers passed on Butler after forming a trio with Ben Simmons that - egos aside - could have contended for championships for years.

Jimmy Butler (pictured) in action during NBA semifinals between Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

"I still don't know how we let him (Butler) go," Embiid said. "I wish I could have gone to battle with him still."

The Sixers parted with Butler in large part because they chose Simmons as the cornerstone ball handler.

Simmons was unhappy and forced a trade this season to Brooklyn for James Harden.

with AAP

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