Nets bringing Ben Simmons along with patience and optimism
Nets guard Ben Simmons looks on against the Jazz in the second half of an NBA game at Barclays Center on Monday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
After all Ben Simmons did offensively to spur the Nets to victory Monday, his final play of the night was on defense — a block off the backboard on Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker's layup in the fourth quarter
It also made fans at Barclays Center nervous as Simmons’ right leg caught Horton-Tucker’s shoulder and Simmons fell down. He stayed down for a brief moment before he was helped up and jogged to the free-throw line.
“I feel good,” Simmons said afterward. “Just another hit, you know, so a little awkward fall, but I feel good.”
The Nets immediately took him out with the game in hand. It illustrated that for all the excitement Simmons brought in his first game since Nov. 6 — 10 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds in 18 minutes — there’s always that element of caution.
Coach Jacque Vaughn said the Nets will keep using Simmons in short stints after a second back injury in two years. It’s unclear how long that will last but expect it to be for the immediate future, including Wednesday against the Suns.
"It will literally be day by day. We’ll get feedback from him, see how he feels after the game,” Vaughn said. “He has historically been a guy that's been able to have time off and get back on the floor and be extremely productive with speed and quickness and hopefully that's the outcome after tonight also.”
Simmons looked comfortable despite missing 38 games because of a nerve impingement. The Nets made sure to pair him with multiple shooters and he didn’t share the court with center Nic Claxton, given their issues with spacing the floor as non-shooters.
Of course, Simmons looked fine through six games to start the season. It's why the Nets are both eager for him to develop chemistry with Mikal Bridges, Cam Thomas and Cam Johnson but also careful not to overdo it with his minutes right now.
“He was just thirsty to play,” Bridges said. “I mean, he just showed it right from the rip - he’s ready to go.”
The Nets, however, won’t rush Simmons back. He won’t start as he gets his conditioning up, but more important, the Nets want to avoid his back issues recurring.
There’s no guarantee Simmons won’t get hurt again, so the goal is maximizing Simmons for the long haul. Monday’s win was a reminder that the Nets planned this team with him as a centerpiece for a group that could shoot more threes and excel at rebounding and defense.
The team’s ceiling looked higher than before with the Nets shooting and sharing the ball. But patience means knowing every game won’t be like Monday and Simmons will have some struggles.
The slow play is also key for next season, with Simmons' contract expiring in 2025. The Nets need to know what they have with Simmons and if he can be depended upon. A third injury could complicate things further.
It’s why Simmons’ last act Monday brought gasps as much as relief after he got up from his fall. One wonky hit could set his progress back, so the Nets are doing the right thing balancing excitement with patience as Simmons works his way into shape.
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
