The Nets have experimented with a bigger lineup and thus far, the results are promising, Bridget Reilly of the New York Post notes. The frontcourt of Nic Claxton, Ziaire Williams and Noah Clowney has posted a plus-24.3 net rating. “It’s great because Noah was committed to shoot the 3. Ziaire will let it fly. And if you look at those three guys it’s like a lot of length, size,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said. “We’ve been talking about how small we’ve been, but right now, you see those three guys on the court and you’re like, wow, there’s no room. They’re flying around. Their effort has been amazing. They’re long, so very, very happy to see those guys working well together and doing the right things for the team.”
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- Ben Simmons didn’t suit up for Tuesday’s game against Denver. Simmons was ruled out on Monday due to lower back injury management, Brian Lewis of the New York Post tweets. Simmons has posted modest stats in three outings this season — 5.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists. Simmons, who is making over $40MM this season, will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer.
- What does Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson think of the Knicks’ acquisition of Karl-Anthony Towns? A whole bunch, according to Peter Botte of the New York Post. “What an incredible pickup for the Knicks. I mean, as soon as I saw that, I said they are championship contenders, because he’s that good,” Atkinson said. “I think he’s really improved. His defense has improved since his first couple of years [in the NBA]. Heck of a player.”
- The Raptors likely won’t have their top player against the Hornets on Wednesday. Scottie Barnes didn’t travel with the team on Tuesday to Charlotte. He’s undergoing medical assessments after taking an elbow to his right eye in the fourth quarter of Monday’s loss to Denver, Marc J. Spears of ESPN tweets. His condition will be updated on Wednesday.
Simmons has sunk to role-player status and shouldn’t get more than the mid-level exemption next year. I think he’d do well off the bench but this guy is missing the spark.
Just recently, against the BUCKS, Simmons got a steal and had the runway and momentum to go hard to the basket …….. yet, he gave the ball up, twice in that sequence.
The ghost of the defensive menace Trae Young will forever haunt Ben Simmons.
This was the play when I knew this dude would never make another all star team. To be fair, Lopez met him in the post but still a blunder that reminded me of the game against Atlanta and how he hasn’t gotten better.
^ Yup, Lopez was at the post, but Simmons had the runway to go hard at the basket.
It wasn’t like the HAWKS scenario wherein he turned and had a nearby opponent on defense – who turned out to be Trae Young, lol.
Funniest comment about Ben Simmons, so far:
“Simmons is the most un-Australian sportsman that we’ve ever had.
Even Raygun did it with conviction”
CTTO
Any team that ever gives Simmons more than a minimum contract should have their head examined.