Whatever you think about Ben Simmons’ stance in forcing his way out of Philadelphia, the end result could not have worked out better for him.
The 25-year-old Australian three-time All-Star is likely to return to the court next Friday for a Brooklyn franchise which has somehow been rated the favourites to win the championship all season but now truly deserve that title.
That’s not to say the Nets will finally add silverware to their vacant trophy cabinet but everything’s coming up Milhouse for them as the NBA season gets serious for the final stretch of the regular season.
Even despite trading James Harden to the 76ers in last week’s blockbuster trade, they now have the most talented, yet also most combustible, roster with the addition of Simmons, sharpshooter Seth Curry – possibly the most under-rated player in the league, probably due to living in the shadow of his famous brother – and the centre that they’ve lacked in Andre Drummond.
And it’s looking more likely as the season goes on that Kyrie Irving will soon be allowed to play games in New York despite his refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Restrictions are easing in the United States and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver spoke earlier this week about how he believes New York City regulations will soon change.
Despite anti-vaxxers receiving little sympathy in the wider community, Irving is actually getting a rough deal in that unvaccinated players from visiting teams are allowed to play in the Barclays Center but he is not.
“This law in New York, the oddity of it to me is that it only applies to home players,” Silver said on ESPN’s Get Up program. “I think if ultimately that rule is about protecting people who are in the arena, it just doesn’t quite make sense to me that an away player who is unvaccinated can play in Barclays but the home player can’t. To me that’s a reason they should take a look at that ordinance.”
New York’s mayor, Eric Adams, followed up Silver’s comments by agreeing the law was unfair but said he was hesitant to change it because he didn’t want to send the wrong message.
And on top of all this, the Nets do have the not insignificant matter of Kevin Durant due back soon from his knee injury. If he doesn’t return next Friday when Simmons is likely to suit up in the first game after the All-Star break, he won’t be far away.
With Durant, Curry and Boomers legend Patty Mills having a sterling season, the Nets have three of the best sharpshooters in the league even if another three-point specialist, Joe Harris, needs a second surgery on his ankle which would put him out for the rest of their campaign.
Drummond’s addition means they have a defensive presence in the paint for the playoffs when the likes of Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Philadelphia star Joel Embiid or Miami centre Bam Adebayo would have previously feasted on Brooklyn’s lack of an interior force.
And the good thing for Simmons is he just has to do his thing. Although it would have been great on an individual level if he was shipped off to a rebuilding team like Orlando where he would have had to carry a heavy scoring load, he can pretty much replicate his Philadelphia role at Brooklyn and it will fit perfectly with coach Steve Nash’s needs.
While he is unlikely to start shooting jump shots, he needs to show from the get-go that he is not a liability at the free-throw line, which explains why he infamously passed up an open dunk to dish the ball to a teammate in last season’s game-seven Eastern Conference finals loss to Atlanta.
His career free throw percentage is a paltry 59.7% and when the pressure was on in last year’s playoffs, it slumped to a woeful 34.2%.
Simmons in his Nets introductory media conference on Tuesday claimed that he had been diligently “working non stop” on free throws and he had “definitely” improved in that area – we will soon find out if that translates from the practice court to the arena because opponents will target him until he proves otherwise.
The Nets staged a dramatic comeback on Thursday to overcome a 28-point deficit in beating New York 111-106 to record their second straight win after a 11-game slide with Durant absence and Harden’s feud with Irving boiling over.
In a pointed comment after their win over the Kings earlier this week, Brooklyn role player Bruce Brown said “everybody likes everybody” in the locker room now.
Funnily enough, after being unconvincing title favourites since the pre-season, the Nets have slipped below western giants Phoenix and Golden State in the pecking order after their recent form slump.
Nothing is clearly guaranteed in a stacked Eastern Conference where Brooklyn will have to overcome the heavyweight trio of the Bucks, Sixers and Heat as well as rapidly improving teams like Chicago, Boston and Cleveland.
But with a cohesive roster, Durant and Simmons coming back, and Irving potentially being available for all games, the sky is the limit.
Aussies in the Big Show
Josh Giddey did it again on Thursday – a third straight triple-double. All in the space of five days – that’s a triple triple-double on the double. The 19-year-old Australian guard posted 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as Oklahoma City Thunder went down 114-106 to San Antonio.
He joins the OG of triple-doubles, Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson as the only two players in NBA history to register three in their rookie season. His effort against the Spurs was his fourth of the season, tying the record set for players under 20 set by Dallas superstar Luka Doncic. It seems only a matter of time before Giddey breaks that record with two months left in the regular season.
Weekend must-watch
Saturday – Rising Stars Challenge, 1pm AEDT
Giddey will be part of Team James Worthy for the new four-team format featuring rookies, sophomores and G-Leaguers in the first game against Team Gary Payton, which also features another NBL rookie of the year in LaMelo Ball.
Keep an eye out for the 3pm game for Australian young gun Dyson Daniels with the G-League Ignite prospect suiting up for Team Rick Barry against Team Isiah Thomas.
Monday – All Stars game, 12pm AEDT
Team Durant v Team LeBron. It’s clear that James edged out KD in both entertainment value and team selection when they held the All-Star draft but the game itself is always a lottery.
.kraM
Roar Rookie
Yup, fair point.
astro
Roar Rookie
He'll likely play all 3 positions, but their ideal line up is KD, Kyrie, Curry, Simmons and Harris. In that line up, Simmons kind of has to play the 5. If he plays PG, where do Kyrie/Mills fit? PF sounds nice, but are the Nets really going to play Simmons alongside a big like Aldridge or Drummond? They don't need/want two bigs in the paint...we saw how that worked out in Philly, and Embiid is x1000 more offensively versatile that Aldridge or Drummond.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Simmons makes a massive difference in defence and ball movement.
.kraM
Roar Rookie
No doubt that if KD isn’t at full fitness, it won’t matter if Simmons somehow turns into a 50/40/90 player. But if Simmons gets back to close to his best and gets close to 75% FT, it will allow KD and KI to do their thing. Would love them to get last play in spot and face Heat first round, not too often you’d get such fierce series early on.
.kraM
Roar Rookie
He’ll play PF or PG, not sure why you think he’d play at the 5?
.kraM
Roar Rookie
I foresee a tight hammy on March 10 although sitting on the bench may be an even worse place to be at Wells Fargo.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
Will be interesting to see how Simmons and Nets go. But Durant is the key to its bid for success, and I don't see Simmons making much difference.
Paul Suttor
Expert
That was more surprising - that Harden's hamstring injury was supposedly legit. Everyone thought he was dogging it while waiting for a trade, although that could also be true and now he's just taking an extended break to try and get back into something resembling good shape
Ben
Guest
Harden didn't play for the 76ers today either. Simmons hasn't played because of lack of conditioning, not because of the supposed crippling mental health issues he was having until a few days ago, he'll play soon.
Paul Suttor
Expert
if it was as simple as that, he would have played already
Paul Suttor
Expert
I think Simmons will be again putting in top effort but it won't count for much if Nash has to sit him in the fourth quarters of games because he's a free-throw liability. Doc Rivers would love to do the hack-a-Ben strategy when the Nets come to Philly next month
Paul Suttor
Expert
I wouldnt put any of the folding stuff on them - their ceiling is now arguably the best going around but it is also a powderkeg and it'd be no surprise if it ends in a smouldering heap
Ben
Guest
He has magically recovered from his "mental health issues"?
astro
Roar Rookie
Nets as legit favourites? Really? I cant see how the Nets are anywhere near being as much of a title threat as the Bucks, Suns, Heat, Sixers or Warriors. And if Murray comes back, watch out for Denver. The Nets have a strong roster, but this article assumes waaaay too much for my liking. Assuming Irving's playing status changes, Simmons shoots better, Durant stays healthy and all these guys play enough games together to actually have any sense being a "a cohesive roster" seems like a dream. In reality, it'll be more like: - Irving only playing 16 games in the remaining schedule and during playoffs, being in and out of the team. All the while, questions about his contract and where he'll play next year, continue... - Simmons returning and needing time to find his place in the team (ie. is he playing PG? Centre? How do they play him AND Drummond - two awful FT shooters who hang around the paint?) and most likely, not having improved his shooting... - A roster which is heavy on centres and non-shooters - how do they find minutes for Drummond, Aldridge, Claxton, Simmons and Griffin when all play the same position...And avoid playing Simmons with Drummond given neither shoot over 60% on FTs - A small guard rotation where Curry, Mills, Thomas and Irving are all strong scorers but poor defenders - Again, an over-reliance on KD to fix everything and carry the team
Brian
Guest
Pretty hard to build team cohesion when Simmons, Drummond & Curry havn't played with you all season, KD been injured and your second best player only plays away games. I also have my doubts about Simmons, he didn't put his heart into Philly, he didn't want to play the Olympics. Why would he now all of a sudden be Mr motivated.