The left lower back nerve impingement that is currently keeping Ben Simmons on the shelf is the same issue that affected him earlier this season, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv and Brian Lewis of The New York Post, who confirm that the Nets guard/forward didn’t suffer a new impingement.
Simmons’ agent Bernie Lee, referring to his client as day-to-day, said he continues to seek answers on how to get Simmons past this health issue, which has affected the former No. 1 overall pick for multiple seasons.
“We continue to try and find non-surgical options to allow Ben to move forward on a permanent basis and that is where this is my responsibility and I am (the) one to blame,” Lee said. “When I began working with Ben I made a commitment to him that I would do everything I could to find the right answers and specialists for him to work with (in order) to move forward from the issues he has been having. Clearly it hasn’t happened, and that’s my responsibility.
“… Come the offseason, we’re going to implement some processes and outside input that’ll allow him to finally move forward from this ongoing issue and resume his career at the levels he’s established prior to being injured.”
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- The Knicks aren’t surprised by the strides that Miles McBride has made as a shooter this season, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic, who notes that the third-year guard is making a strong case for rotation minutes even when everyone is healthy. As Stefan Bondy of The New York Post observes, the signing of Shake Milton will give New York another option in an increasingly crowded backcourt. However, Katz suggests that Milton is viewed as a depth piece and that McBride’s performance should keep him ahead of Milton – and Alec Burks – on the team’s depth chart.
- Celtics newcomer Xavier Tillman has made a positive impression on his new teammates, according to Brian Robb of MassLive.com and Jay King of The Athletic. Tillman played just three total minutes in his first seven games as a Celtic (he missed four of those games while recovering from a knee injury), but has scored 13 points across 33 minutes and been a +26 in Boston’s past two games. “X looked good out there, man,” Jaylen Brown said after Friday’s win over Dallas. “It’s like, he fit right in. He came right in and made contributions on defense, got a few rebounds, got some stops. Offense, you could tell he got a good feel for the game. A good screen setter.”
- The Celtics‘ offensive success this season stems in large part from the fact that their top eight players are all reliable three-point shooters on relatively high volume, writes John Hollinger of The Athletic. Hollinger considers whether it’s just a matter of time until the NBA features several more teams that look like the Celtics or whether Boston is an anomaly due to the difficulty of building a roster that has that many shooters and still plays strong defense.
Ben Simmons will be either traded next year or released. He is sorry excuse for an NBA player.
Agree. I still remember when he wanted to fight Lowry. Simmons thought he was IT back then. He’s nothing but an excuse for an NBA player as you mentioned.
Best expiring contract next season
The grizzlies are going to miss Tillman so much. The Grizzlies front office were obviously floundering with that trade. So disappointing to see such a perfect role player leave like that
Miles just has take on all comers. Been saying he’s ready since trade of Quickley. Solid 2way game. Just wish he would run offense more. Sometimes too quick to give up the ball. I can see his confidence is growing. Stay true Deuce…….
Maybe Gentle Ben needs to go under the knife?? Sounds like that’s his next recourse, but I’m sensing he’s too much of a cry baby for that!!
The NYK (HC and FO) believe in McBride, longer term and in his current readiness for the rotation, and that’s based on his actual body of work with them. They’re not guessing or giving him a look. He was in the rotation last year until the Hart trade, and was removed for numbers, not his play. They’ve been looking to get him back in the rotation since, particularly after another summer in the system. The NYK would not have traded IQ mid-year (regardless of any other factor) and certainly wouldn’t have extended McBride for 3 more years (simultaneous with the trade) if they weren’t pretty sure about him. He was only going to be a RFA, so they could have waited.
Xavier is the perfect Celtics player. I wonder who will end up being the 15 man for the playoffs.We shall see!
Ben Simmons and medical staff might look into the fairly new Intercept procedure for nerve pain in the back. I had lower back nerve pain, not any herniated disc, for years and in October had this new procedure and I’m so much better. I had my S1-L5-L4 done. Check it out, really for anyone who has nerve pain.