Celtics fans did their best to ensure Ben Simmons will not forget his first playoff game in Boston and Donovan Mitchell loved every minute of it.
Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers have been one of the main stories of the playoffs so far but they endured a difficult night on Monday, as they were swept aside by the Celtics in Game One of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Despite being beset by injuries, the Celtics ran out 117-101 winners, with Al Horford, Terry Rozier and Jayson Tatum combining for 83 points as Philadelphia had no answer for Boston's offense.
As a packed TD Garden roared the Celtics on, Simmons, who finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists, was repeatedly taunted by the "not a rookie" chants during the first half. The Australian is the firm favorite to win the Rookie of the Year Award even if, as Celtics fans were only too happy to remind him, he is technically not a rookie.
Celtics fans to Ben Simmons: “Not a rookie.” 👀 pic.twitter.com/uG8A2lUwzD
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 1, 2018
Simmons was the Number 1 pick of the 2016 NBA draft but missed the whole of last season recovering from a foot injury, before eventually making his debut in the current campaign.
The 21-year-old has put up incredible figures in his first campaign in the league, averaging 15.8 points, 8.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds per game but given he's technically not a rookie, some have suggested he should not be considered for the award.
Mitchell is also in the race to be named Rookie of the Year and he certainly found the chants aimed at his rival very amusing, judging by his Twitter feed.
😂😂😂😂
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) May 1, 2018
The duo have developed quite the rivalry this season, aiming not-so-subtle digs at one another on social media, particularly after Simmons declared last month that no other rookie had caught his attention this season.
Boston's crowd did his best to change his mind, chanting "he's a rookie" when Tatum went to the charity stripe later in the game but the Sixers' guard insisted the hostile atmosphere had not troubled him.
"I don't care. It doesn't affect me at all," he said , as reported by ESPN.
Safe to say he can expect more of the same in Game Two.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Dan Cancian is currently a reporter for Newsweek based in London, England. Prior to joining Newsweek in January 2018, he was a news and business reporter at International Business Times UK. Dan has also written for The Guardian and The Observer.
Newsletter
