Before we begin here, it’s important to realise that the NBA has absolutely no distinction between strikes that are a light, incidental graze, and a wild, orbital bone-shattering haymaker. Every bodily blow is equal and the same in the eyes of the league and its fans, and every one is viewed as an appalling slight on par with treason. So with that said we address the burning question of the day: Did Ben Simmons purposefully cannon his elbow into the plums of Kyle Lowry or nah?
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The Sixers had a day out against Toronto in game three of their Eastern Conference semifinal matchup, routing a fairly insipid Raptors in the last quarter to secure a 116 – 95 victory, taking a 2 games to 1 lead in the series in the process.
But that all matters little, because the main talking point from the game is whether or not Ben Simmons, born in Fitzroy, rattled the jimmies of Toronto star Kyle Lowry.
The pair got entangled mid-way during the second quarter with Simmons going to ground after Lowry boxed him out. In the process of picking himself back up, this happened:
https://twitter.com/TheRenderNBA/status/1124116601064837120
Simmons and Lowry get tangled up under the basket … 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Ntl1HGHKAw
— ESPN (@espn) May 3, 2019
Ben Simmons with the low blow on Kyle Lowry… 😳#NBAPlayoffs | #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/INMbbSv6ER
— Tim and Friends (@timandfriends) May 3, 2019
The reverse angle shot there is the only one that shows the blow landing with any force, and it seems like it was a precision strike that landed flush on the agates.
Lowry spent a considerable amount of time on the deck recovering – counting, but presumably not rubbing, ’em – and the nut shot capped off a pretty dirty night for Lowry, who managed just 7 points on the night.
There’s a fair argument to be made that Simmons put his elbow up because there was a very large human being on top of him and the contact with, I cannot overstate this, Lowry’s fucking nutsack was incidental at best and at absolute worst a little careless.
But as far as the NBA-viewing jury was concerned, the verdict was simple: Outrageous cheap shot, Simmons is dirty, and so on, and so on, forever.
Ben Simmons with a cheap shot elbow to Kyle Lowry’s groin. #ouch #NBAPlayoffs
— Tim Hipsley (@TimHipsley) May 3, 2019
I don’t know what the appropriate penalty is for this if it’s not seen on the floor, but it’s something. https://t.co/CXXgX6f46P
— (((Eric Koreen))) (@ekoreen) May 3, 2019
Suspend Ben Simmons for next game
No ands, ifs, or buts about it
— Fadeaway World (@FadeawayWorld) May 3, 2019
ben simmons punched lowry in the nuts
— Waiting To Oxtail (@ThatDudeMCFLY) May 3, 2019
Ben Simmons is a shithead pic.twitter.com/kurbSowNHQ
— Chris Catsarebach (@asapblake_) May 3, 2019
BEN SIMMONS WITH A CLEAR PUNCH TO LOWRY’S GROIN.
Lets not even review that, but call a flagrant on a JJ Redick flop. This is pathetic officiating. #WeTheNorth
— Antonio Harris (@RedGloves99) May 3, 2019
Holy cow. How did they miss that nut shot from Ben Simmons. SOOO dirty.
— Chris Anderson (@CMAnderson247) May 3, 2019
I’m surprised Lowry didn’t lose his mind after that cheap shot by Simmons.
— Deuce Mason (@DeuceMason) May 3, 2019
Ben Simmons is a nard puncher. Sad
— Chris Vernon (@ChrisVernonShow) May 3, 2019
And to all that the only reasonable response is: It’s a ball sport.
A ball sport.
Balls.
