Ben Simmons is targeting Monday’s Game 4 to make his debut with the Nets, but coach Steve Nash isn’t committing to anything, tweets Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Simmons went through a full workout today, which Nash said went well, but he cautioned that it’s difficult to start playing at this point of the season.
“I think it’s possible, but I’m not sure,” Nash told reporters before tonight’s game. “Like I said before, it’s not a normal return to play, having been off for nine months and being injured as long as he has been at the back of this, going on two months now – I think if I’m not mistaken – or more, so it’s not just, he got through three workouts and he’s ready to play. There’s a lot of bigger picture, bigger context — how he’s feeling, how able he would be to adapt to the environment. It’s a little different than playing a game that’s in the middle of the regular season so I think there’s a few factors at play to evaluate when he’s ready to play.”
Simmons was just cleared for contact five days ago as he continues to make progress from the back ailment that has kept him out of action since Brooklyn acquired him in February. He hasn’t played since Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals more than 10 months ago.
There’s more on the Nets:
- The Celtics‘ defensive approach has forced Kevin Durant into two of the worst playoff games of his career, observes Sam Amick of The Athletic. Amick talked to a pair of scouts who point out that Boston is being physical with Durant before he gets the ball and has guarded him with six different players so far. Durant is coming off a 4-for-17 performance in Game 2 and committed six turnovers in each of the first two games of the series.
- The Nets are in danger of letting another of Durant’s prime years slip away, warns Ian O’Connor of The New York Post. O’Connor notes that it’s not a sure thing that Durant and Kyrie Irving will both be healthy at playoff time ever again, so the Nets should have a sense of urgency to get back in the series.
- After missing the first two games of the series with a sprained left ankle, Blake Griffin was upgraded to available for Game 3, Lewis tweets. The veteran big man hasn’t played since April 2.
No doubt Simmons will make a big difference in turning this around.
AHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA
Oh my sides.
Nets looking good from my eyes
Stevie Wonder
I can see them getting right back in this
-Ray Charles
KD and Kyrie – What an embarassment!
Dont want to hear any excuses or blames. You guys own it and it’s total failure!
It’s never Kyrie’s fault. Just ask him.
Fasting for Ramadan?? What a joke!
Why is this a joke? I’m Muslim but I’d like you to clarify your comment so I don’t make an assumption about you.
@raz
Let me say it for you. @Michol what a douchey thing to say. It’s his religion and I imagine it takes a huge sacrifice. However, he’s had phenomenal games (6 games of 25+) since the start of Ramadan so I bet he’ll be the last person to use that as an excuse. This team is talented but they clearly don’t play like a TEAM. And I will hold my opinion of Nash as a coach until he has a drama free season with all his stars healthy, but he HAS to figure out a way to free up Durant or get someone else involved.
Nets played as a team in the RS, but Celtics plays as a team even more! They are quite a machine right now.
Ramadan does Not mean 24/7 fasting. If it did, it would certainly be an issue for a physical job. Religion should not have a free pass in a civil society, though courts give it plenty of leeway.
He could fast all he want, but he needs to still do his job well like most of other Muslims who fast during Ramadan. He sucked and using Ramadan to draw attention to himself. Does he do other things to be a good Muslim?
Agreed. You don’t HAVE to fast for Ramadan if you’re in the playoffs and it could interfere with how well you do your job. I’m no authority on Muslimism, but if you’re Christian and eat a steak on a Friday during Lent, they’re not gonna boot you out of the religion. Kyrie seems like he embraces doing dumb sh!t just to get reaction from the masses.
@Jump
what a stupid thing to say. Jews and Muslims are very serious about the various sacrifices their religions call for and not once did I hear Kyrie use it as an excuse for poor play.
Simmons returning for an elimination game?
Zero chance.
Maybe they might as well try. Nothing else has worked.
Yeah, he’s bringing brooms with him for the C’s
Which idiot.ic is going to give Kyrie super max contract this offseason? He’s a drama part time player… let him opt out and walk.
It’s not easy to win chips in sports. Bron has made it seem like you can build a team around stars on the fly. So his contemporaries think they can do it too. Stars don’t win chips TEAMS do.
Fact is Bron is 4-6 in NBA Finals. So even GM Bron has a losing record.
Celtics are a real team. Built thru the draft and key FA signings. Built the more methodical way. Tatum and Jalen have finally grown up. Al has brought this defense together. Al is a big chemistry piece for this team. Celtics undervalued him when they let him go. Celtics are playing right now. Their bench is also producing. They are showing they are a good deep team.
Teams win in playoffs. Not players. Good Players who play off the team. Become great players.
@Knicks
Teams with stars win chips.
It doesn’t matter how a team is put together (drafted vs assembled by a star). It also doesn’t matter if it’s by the GM only or with the assist of a galvanizing star.
In the case of the Nets tho I simply think it was arrogance that all they needed to do was for Durant and Irving to join forces and it would automatically succeed. I love Kyrie as a player but he has to understand the difference between being a team’s scoring leader vs being the leader of men. I hate the GSW and for a while not a fan of Draymond but he’s a clear example of a lesser talented player being the leader of others more talented. Kyrie’s chip came because of LBJ and the respect other had for his talent, his IQ and his leadership calm under duress.
I have seen a lot of talented but low IQ players and coaches this playoff series. Very chaotic guys relying on athleticism and not team concept or court awareness. That’s also why I hate to see LBJ’s last few seasons wasted with low IQ players, even the one he THOUGHT he could change in Westbrook.
Let’s be fair to Brooklyn here, as much as we might not want to be.
This team traded an All Star center (Allen) and high level role player (LeVert) and multiple picks that could have brought in other players for James Harden.
That iteration didn’t stay healthy (or vaccinated) then Harden forced his way out. So they were more or less forced into taking this Simmons package—and Ben hasn’t played
Between KD, Kyrie, Harden, and Simmons we’ve yet to see any iteration of this BK healthy for a playoff run. (Let’s not forget Joe Harris who’s also missing.)
Will we be talking about Milwaukee’s glaring faults if they lose without Middleton? Phoenix without Booker?
Ironically, I think had this team just never made the Harden trade they’d have been better off. But even then if Kyrie is healthy last postseason they probably win the whole thing. And then none of us are having this conversation.
On top of that last year, they lost Dinwiddie for the season. This year, there was the chance Joe Harris would be back for the end of the season before he had the surgery, then, after the trade for Simmons, there was hope he’d be back by the end of the season. We never got to see this team at full strength. It could happen next year, but they appear to be snakebit. This season’s not over yet and stranger things have happened. These games were all relatively close and could have gone the other way. Bruce Brown has been amazing, but the Celtics will take that if they can force poor play by KD and Kyrie.
@phenom
A team with two huge stars like Kyrie and Durant should be good enough to at least win one of the first 3 games. that part.
But it was Ray Allen, D.Wade, and Kyrie that hit the big, gane-winning shots in 3 of LBJs championship runs to keep “his greatness” from getting eliminated…
Players become stars by playing off the team. There are different kind of stars. Bron knows ball and who he wants to play with. As good as Heat team was. They were lucky that East at time was not a deep conference like it is now.
There are great players. And there are great players who play to win. This is a two way sport. Nets stars are being beaten by a Team D they have not adapted to. Gotta give Celtics credit. They are playing both ways. And their Home Grown stars are leading the way.
@Richard
Ok. Allen, a member of the team, hit the game tying shot. For the ENTIRE game he scored 9 points ,
1 rebound and 2 assists. on 3 for 8 shooting. LBJ had 33 points 11 rebounds and 10 assists. So let’s forget everything James did to put his team in position to win.
Not sure about the Wade reference.
Kyrie is my favorite player to watch and that was a HUGE shot. But do we ignore what LBJ did in that game too. How about with 5 minutes to go in the 4th and the score is 87-83 with Cavs down by 4. LBJis fouled attempting a 3.He shoots and makes all 3 to make the score 87- 86 Cavs down by 1. Then he hits a 3 pt shot to take the knees 89-87 Cavs up by 1? Then with score tied 89-89 LBJ blocks Iguadala’s dunk from behind to keep it tied 89-89. Then Kyrie hits the eventual GW shot. But let’s ignore the previous 6 points LBJ scored to overcome the 4 point defunct he turned into a 2 point lead to get to 89 points. Oh and let’s forget about the last 3 win or go home elimination games the Cavs had to win led by LBJ and the 109 points, 29 assists, 35 rebounds, 9 steals and 9 blocks he contributed in the 3 win run. Let me help you out. That’s a 3 game average of 36 points, 9 assists, 11 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 blocks. Yeah…..LBJ didn’t earn that chip. It was alllll Kyrie. Yeash.
Here’s a stat to ponder….
Great defense — or — Bad coaching ??
Celtics defense held Kyrie & KD to 5 total shot ATTEMPTS in the 4th quarter ……
How can this happen in Bklyn. When you are down 2-0 to Celtics. Just crazy lols
With KD only having 1 FGA…That says it all for me..They’ve gotten in KDs head, have him frustrated, and Nash isn’t experienced enough to do anything about it..
I’m starting to wonder if this team is going to implode after they exit and you have to think Durant is tired of Kyrie’s BS and them trading for a sally who can’t shot or take criticism then there’s the coach (or lack of one) that refused to require defense
They can’t rebuild they have zero picks because of the Harden trade they just need to get rid of Nash he is terrible but they might give him one more season due to the injuries and mid season trades and why would KD be tired of Kyrie? He didn’t do nothing wrong + they are great friends. I already knew this Nets team wouldn’t work when KD and Kyrie first got there. Kyrie basically said they don’t need a coach and how Kenny was just let go like that. And then trading for James Harden who is know for being out of shape, Lazy, Quitting, Heavily ISO ball. The Nets still have a huge window tho but that just depends on how Simmons plays and how his back holds up.
Nets title window is CLOSED. Blame Kyrie and KD. KD is the one who traded for Harden from Houston. KD also handpicked Nash and there’s just no accountability. All they do is encourage and praise each other, be happy, and think their individual talents suffice. Nets are the laughing stock of nba!!
Agreed
The Nets have not been a Team all yr. First there was Kyrie not playing. Then it was Harden wanting out. Thru all this they have had injuries. Then Ben coming and Not playing.
Again you just can’t put together a team on the fly. And expect to contend. Nash has also been exposed for his inexperience.
This team with a fresh start. Is still a contender. This team plays a yr together. They will be a force. Kyrie is who he is. I would never want him on my team. But if he plays they are a force.
Nash may not survive this. But if he had an experienced coach like DAntoni last yr. One who could advise him in critical moments. He could of won gm1. And all could be different. Look at his assistants.
Assistant Coach. Jacque Vaughn. (College – Kansas) David Vanterpool. (College – St. Bonaventure) Brian Keefe. (College – UNLV) Adam Harrington. (College – Auburn) Jordan Ott. (College – Penn State) …
Not one with strong playoff experience. If he is to survive. I make him hire an experienced playoff coach as assistant.
Simmons will get his way and be traded to an LA team in the off-season. He won’t have any mental or medical health issues and can sit in the mansion he bought in LA last offseason.
Defense wins …
Everyone else got enraptured with offense.