The first-round playoff series between the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets has already delivered a few great storylines through two games, from Sixers fans booing the home team off the court, to Joel Embiid cracking up during an apology for a flagrant foul, to Jared Dudley offering a biting critique of All-Star Ben Simmons.

Simmons has been widely criticized throughout his career for his missing jump shot and flat-out refusal to take shots from long range, and you could make an argument that Simmons’ lack of a few standard guard skills may prohibit the 76ers’ loaded starting lineup from reaching its full potential. The Sixers pulled away from the Nets in Game 2 with one explosive quarter to even the series, but Brooklyn veteran Jared Dudley argued that if the Nets can take away Simmons’ opportunities in transition, they’re left to deal with an “average” player in half court situations.

Via CBS Sports’ James Herbert:

“I think that Ben Simmons is a great player in transition. Once you slow him up in the half court, I think he’s average when it comes to that. He’s a player that, when he picks up speed, he’s a load, so you’re going to have two guys with him. So for him it’s just take away his easy baskets. If you’re in a bad way, foul him. Make him make free throws. If he’s 4-for-4, keep fouling him. The odds tell you what his percentages are on free throws…. It’s his speed that dictates, that gets other guys going. But sometimes, Ben Simmons is going to have a good game, he’s going to have 25 points. But you can’t have that with all four of those guys. So we gotta think about how the game is going. If Embiid and Simmons have it going, then Butler and Harris can’t get going.”

When asked about Dudley’s criticism, Simmons brushed off the quote by responding “it’s coming from Jared Dudley, come on.”

The Nets did an excellent job of slowing Simmons in Game 1, holding him to nine points and three assists in 32 minutes. Simmons posted a triple-double in a Game 2 win, and shot 8-of-12 from the floor. After Simmons’ retort went viral, several analysts sided with Dudley. Richard Jefferson said Thursday that “the entire NBA” believes Simmons is limited in the half court.

Ben Simmons took issue with Jared Dudley's assessment of his game. @Rjeff24 tells @JaredSGreenberg and @bwood_33 that Dudley isn't alone in his opinion #WeGoHard #HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/wAUfPtKXSz — SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) April 18, 2019

“No, no, Ben, that’s coming from the entire NBA. That’s where that’s coming from. The entire NBA thinks that. Like Ben.. he’s a, I don’t want to say Hall of Fame, but I’m saying, this guy’s a stud. We know. He’s a No. 1 pick, rookie of the year. All of these accolades. But he’s not that good in the half court, right? That’s just a fact. I’m not saying he’s a liability or any of these things, but he is excellent – excellent – in the open court. He is excellent in transition, one of the best in the NBA. In the half court with 12 seconds to go? I don’t necessarily think that I would want the ball in his hands. He doesn’t want to shoot free throws, he doesn’t want to do that.”

Steven Jackson also backed Dudley on FS1, saying that Simmons simply doesn’t want to hear the truth.

“The truth sounds like hate to people who hate the truth…. He’s not a good half court player. As you see last game, he had success by getting the ball up to the hoop, pushing it and getting quick baskets. Half court game is not his game. He can’t shoot it. He won’t even shoot it. Jared Dudley is dead on.”