BOSTON — Celtics fans had their say on the ongoing Rookie of the year debate during Game one of the Eastern Conference semifinals. A debate not just about which rookie is best (Ben Simmons or Jayson Tatum) but whether one is even a rookie at all. And the verdict was unanimous. Their guy (Simmons) is not a rookie, but our guy (Tatum) is.
Mass Live’s Tom Westerholm and NBC Sports Philly’s Jess Camerato weighed in on the rookie of the year debate on this week’s Celtics Beat on the CLNS Media Network with host Adam Kaufman. Westerholm says, the ‘Not a Rookie’ chants may not be achieving their desired effect.
“The ‘not a rookie’ chants for Ben Simmons – I would almost call them ill advised,” Westerholm said. “That’s the whole problem. Isn’t that kind of a compliment? You’re a rookie doesn’t play like a rookie.”
Simmons brought a lot of this on himself, declaring in an interview that he should 100% be the rookie of the year and that none of the other rookies in this class had caught his attention. Camerato however doesn’t think Simmons cares all that much about the award.
“It doesn’t matter. Ben’s vision line for his career goes so far beyond what he’s able to accomplish in year one,” said Camerato. “If he continues to expand his offensive game, who knows where Ben’s career is going to take him?”
Camerato says Simmons doesn’t care but Sixers point forward definitely looked a bit perturbed when asked about the Garden chants after the game. He may also not have liked the fact that he was clearly outplayed by Tatum who poured in 28 points on 8-for-16 shooting. However, due to the fact that he played on a deep team with so many other scorers Tatum is not really in the rookie of the year conversation.
Mass Live’s Tom Westerholm and NBC Sports Philly’s Jess Camerato weighed in on the rookie of the year debate on this week’s Celtics Beat on the CLNS Media Network with host Adam Kaufman. Westerholm says, the ‘Not a Rookie’ chants may not be achieving their desired effect.
“The ‘not a rookie’ chants for Ben Simmons – I would almost call them ill advised,” Westerholm said. “That’s the whole problem. Isn’t that kind of a compliment? You’re a rookie doesn’t play like a rookie.”
Simmons brought a lot of this on himself, declaring in an interview that he should 100% be the rookie of the year and that none of the other rookies in this class had caught his attention. Camerato however doesn’t think Simmons cares all that much about the award.
“It doesn’t matter. Ben’s vision line for his career goes so far beyond what he’s able to accomplish in year one,” said Camerato. “If he continues to expand his offensive game, who knows where Ben’s career is going to take him?”
Camerato says Simmons doesn’t care but Sixers point forward definitely looked a bit perturbed when asked about the Garden chants after the game. He may also not have liked the fact that he was clearly outplayed by Tatum who poured in 28 points on 8-for-16 shooting. However, due to the fact that he played on a deep team with so many other scorers Tatum is not really in the rookie of the year conversation.
