[ad_1]
The lasting picture up till this 12 months of Ben Simmons was him passing up an open dunk within the Philadelphia 76ers recreation seven loss to the Atlanta Hawks within the 2021 playoffs.
It was so memorable ( in a foul method) that it turned a viral meme. We all know what occurs subsequent at this level. Doc Rivers stated he wasn’t positive if Simmons was a championship-caliber level guard. Simmons wouldn’t play one other recreation for the 76ers and sat out till lastly being traded to the Nets within the James Harden blockbuster commerce.
Unfortunately for Simmons, the beginning of his Brooklyn Nets profession did not go a lot better. After being traded to the Nets, Simmons did not play in a single recreation that season. It was thought he may go well with up for the Nets playoff sequence vs. the Boston Celtics, however Simmons by no means made it to the court docket.
The Nets reportedly have been sad with this growth and met with Simmons agent Rich Paul to debate how they may get Simmons again on the court docket.
It appeared Simmons was headed to a different messy divorce earlier than he even began on the court docket. Then got here the information throughout the low season that Kevin Durant was demanding a commerce out of Brooklyn as he didn’t see eye to eye with Steve Nash or the overall supervisor.
Phoenix and Miami are amongst two of the groups that Kevin Durant has on his want record, sources inform ESPN, however the Nets plan to maneuver Durant the place they will get the absolute best deal. With 4 years on his contract, there isn’t any scarcity of groups prepared to unload property for Durant.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022
After the Nets couldn’t discover a appropriate deal for the long run Hall of Famer and Steve Nash was fired, plainly the state of affairs has calmed down in the intervening time.
The Nets started to get their act collectively slowly, and a number of that needed to do with interim head coach Jacque Vaughn. The Nets are 27-13, winners of 18 out of 20, and have been the very best workforce over the past a number of weeks. Everything appeared to be going the Nets method lastly, after which Jimmy Butler inadvertently fell backward into Durant’s knee throughout their 102-101 win vs. the Heat. Adrian Wojnarowski stated the harm may not be as dangerous because it seemed. The greatest case is Durant will miss two weeks. Worse case is a month or extra.
There’s optimism Durant will miss much less time than he did with a six-week absence final season; a big sigh of reduction across the Nets and their MVP candidate. https://t.co/MrfAPtU90W
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 9, 2023
The Nets went 5-16 final 12 months with out their celebrity ahead, together with an 11-game dropping streak. With Durant out for no less than just a few weeks, this opens the door for somebody outdoors of Kyrie Irving to step up, and that participant must be Ben Simmons.
Ben Simmons play throughout Durant’s absence can go an extended option to restore his status.
Even with Simmons’ contribution in a optimistic option to the Nets’ latest success, it’s nonetheless a lingering doubt about his recreation long run. Of course, a few of that may solely be answered within the playoffs. Stepping up his recreation now might make an enormous distinction.
Simmons won’t ever be the kind of participant to take over a recreation scoring. That has by no means been his greatest attribute. So far this season, he’s averaging the bottom factors per recreation of his profession at 7.7. Loads of that is because of enjoying with two of the very best offensive gamers of all time, however a few of it’s Simmons nonetheless working his method again from previous accidents.
Do the Nets want him to start out scoring 20 factors a recreation? Of course not, however they want him to extend his offensive output and no less than develop into a risk on the offensive finish. More than something, they want him to assist get his teammates simpler pictures. The gravity Irving and Durant draw is normally the Nets greatest offense, making it simpler for everybody on the court docket with them. Of course, most of that falls on Irving with Durant out, however he cannot shoulder all the offensive load.
Simmons can also be averaging a career-low in assists at 6.0, however with Durant out, he must carry again a few of the playmaking expertise that made him an All-Star. At his peak, Simmons might management each side of the sport. He was a dynamic passer, an elite defensive participant who might guard any place and a power on quick breaks. We have seen glimmers of that this season, however now could be the time for him to method All-Star Ben Simmons if the Nets are to remain close to the highest of the East.
Games, as he had on Nov. 20, have been few and much these days as he has taken a step again as Irving and Durant proceed to dominate each recreation.
That kind of recreation is what the Nets will want going ahead till Durant is again within the lineup. Of course, it is going to assist that TJ Warren is working his method again, as he may help take a few of the offensive burdens off Irving, however Simmons can change the sport on either side of the court docket.
The Nets have three days off till their subsequent recreation on Thursday vs. Boston on TNT. That provides them time to implement in additional performs for Simmons as he nonetheless tries to work his method again to his All-Star days. If Simmons can elevate his recreation to wherever near the place it was just some years in the past, it is not going to solely assist the Nets long-term as soon as the playoffs begin, however it is going to go an extended option to restore Simmons status within the NBA.
[ad_2]