The Nets don’t know when Ben Simmons will be available, but Patty Mills expects him to make an immediate impact whenever he does come back, writes Nick Friedell of ESPN. Simmons hasn’t played yet this season due to a standoff with Sixers management, mental health issues and soreness in his back, but Mills believes he’ll be a difference maker.
“He’s going to be a threat either way,” Mills said. “On ball, off ball — whether he’s handling the ball, whether he’s off the ball as a screener, I think he’s such a threat that he’s going to draw a lot of attention. So I think given his IQ and the way he can pass the ball and handle the ball, that makes us better at his bare minimum. So, obviously, where he’s the biggest threat is in an open-court situation with people, especially shooters around him. But, like I said, a bare-minimum Ben Simmons makes this team a whole lot better as well.”
General manager Sean Marks said this week there’s “no real timetable” for Simmons to resume playing, although it will likely be two more weeks at minimum. Simmons hasn’t participated in a full practice since the February 10 trade that brought him from Philadelphia, but Mills said he has been able to learn from his new teammates while sidelined.
“We’re doing a lot of talking,” Mills said. “A lot of conversations, meaning the group, a lot of film, a lot of walk-through stuff. So he’s there for all of it; he’s there for the entire practice. And then he’s doing his part with his shooting coach and physio and whatever that looks like. But as far as every team thing goes, he’s at everything.”
There’s more from Brooklyn:
- Even though the Nets lost Thursday in Kevin Durant‘s first game back after being injured, he offered some hope with a 31-point performance, per Mark W. Sanchez of The New York Post. Durant said a total team effort will be needed to turn around the season, adding, “I don’t look at myself as that — as a savior.”
- Nets guard Seth Curry shares his memories of playing for retiring Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski in a lengthy interview with Steve Serby of The New York Post. Curry also touches on a few NBA topics, such as the difficulty he had breaking into the league, what it’s like to play alongside Durant and Kyrie Irving and Brooklyn’s playoff prospects after a second-half slide. “We put ourself in a tough situation with the play-in game, but we still like our chances against anybody in the league,” Curry said. “… Our sense of urgency is trying to fit together and figure out the way we’re gonna play when we do get in that play-in game and then hopefully into the playoffs.”
- Steve Nash will be available to coach Sunday against the Celtics after clearing the health and safety protocols, tweets Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
I understand that Hoops Rumors picks up articles from other outlets. But multiple stories every day about the Lakers, Nets – with a guy that apparently has been suddenly cured of his mental illness (I have friends that are mental health professionals – this entre charade is both harmful and insulting to people that have real issues and the professionals that work with them as they try to make adjustments).
How are the Suns adapting to working around Chris Paul’s issues? Are the Heat and the Bulls working towards being championship contenders? How about the Grizzlies? What do the Bucks have to do to get back to The Finals? As for the rebuilding teams – what players look to be a part of a core based on their play this year?
So Durant doesn’t think of himself as a “savior”. Could have fooled me after reading multiple articles about him here every day for weeks now.
He’ll be available shortly after the Sixers play Brooklyn.
Really? Why’s that?
I’d advice Samuel to take up another sport lol………. Try reading Aristotle ……..
He might have some answers for you
Best thing that can happen to Nets. Is lifting mandate for arenas in NYC. Then they can make a move. A full healthy Nets squad. Can beat anyone. So all top 3 seeds beware.
I wholeheartedly agree, but the play-in is dangerous. A new team trying to figure out their roles on the fly, and it could only take 1 loss..
Any team can win a game on any given night..Is it likely?? No, they’ll likely win, regardless which team they face; however, anything is possible. That’s especially the case if they play a team like the Hawks, and Trey, Hunter, Boggy, Capela, and John Collins all have a solid game..
Or what if they play in Toronto, without Kyrie for the play-in?? Toronto has got some studs that could ball out in a one game series…
I’m just saying, the Nets better start getting it in gear; otherwise, they could put themselves in a very dangerous, tricky situation..
The Nets seem to make great effort no matter who is going, so they have that on their side.
Simmons worked in a place he could not go back to. I’m sure Samuel’s friends have seen the problem in their psych practices, and advised their patients to work somewhere else instead of calling them fakes.
Personally I am sick of Samuel’s hearsays and him speaking on behalf of friends not in evidence, nor even in previous posts, likely to exist. He probably has seen shrinks tho.
You are EXACTLY correct x%sure!!
I’ve tried explaining the situation to people who think Simmons miraculously was “cured” by going elsewhere, but they are just going to believe whatever fits their narrative. Most likely it is just fueled by their dislike for Simmons in general, idk..
How hard is it to believe that a player that is experiencing stress and anxiety, which is exacerbated by their fans and media, would begin to feel somewhat better when he leaves that environment!?!
He’s even stated that he’s continuing his treatment, and knows that a change of scenery won’t make it just magically go away..
Even for those that don’t and cannot understand, I’ve tried to explain it the best way I know how, like a baseball pitcher with the “yips.” One day they are perfectly fine throwing strikes, then they uncharacteristically throw a ball to the back-stop one practice or game out of nowhere…Then, they hit a batter, and start to get in their own head..People are questioning you, you are questioning yourself, and next thing you know you cannot even throw a strike..Something you have done for the majority of your life, you can no longer do, and you don’t know why..
All that stress and built up anxiety creates a mental block that doesn’t allow your body to move precisely the way you’re used to. Just like a free throw, it is mainly routine, repetition, but most importantly muscle memory. You go to do everything the same that has been working for you, yet somehow the ball never goes in anymore…
It is very difficult to understand if you haven’t experienced it yourself, or at least you know someone that has.
The mind and the brain are a powerful thing, people that don’t suffer with anxiety issues generally just cannot comprehend what it is like..
However, just because you don’t understand something doesn’t make it fake..That is just your own ignorance..
Man BRK with Ben will be just sooo scary, can’t wait for him to get back & light up the league again!
I’m tired of hearing about this clown