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Simmons: Celtics limiting me to 1-point game was 'self-inflicted'

Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons is coming off the worst performance of his professional career, but he's not willing to credit the Boston Celtics.

Fresh off a one-point performance in a Game 2 collapse, Simmons believes he was too passive while his Sixers blew a sizable lead to fall into a 0-2 deficit against a shorthanded Celtics squad.

"I think it was mainly what I did to myself," Simmons told Ian Begley of ESPN. "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 added that his struggles were "self-inflicted" and not a product of bumping up against the Celtics, who have held the No. 1 defense all season.

He even added that the Miami Heat, whom the Sixers dismissed in five games, were more physical with him than Boston was.

"I think the way the Heat played, it was nothing compared to the Celtics. Physically, the Heat were on another level," Simmons said.

The results, however, paint a different picture. Beyond his one-point performance, Simmons also had 12 turnovers in the two losses and the Sixers have been outscored by 44 points in the 73 minutes with him on the floor.

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