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NBA Talking Points: Simmons struggles, Zion back with a bang, Giddey up for threes, Lakers need trade

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Expert
20th October, 2022
17

Ben Simmons answered zero of the questions that have hovered over his career for nearly 18 months in his return to the NBA.

For all the hype about his return in what was his first game with the Brooklyn Nets, he not only delivered little as far as helping his team, he was again tentative.

The 26-year-old Australian former No.1 draft pick took just two shots for the Nets in their unimpressive 130-108 loss on their home floor at the Barclays Center to New Orleans.

He scored Brooklyn’s first basket of the match – an alley-oop dunk – and then didn’t take another shot until late in the third quarter when he botched a relatively tough lay-up. His only attempt to put the ball in the hoop was when he was fed another alley-oop dunk early in the fourth quarter as the match had all but slipped away.

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When he last stepped foot on an NBA floor in June, 2021, he was mocked both internally and externally for not shooting as higher-ranked Philadelphia were knocked out of the playoffs in an upset loss to Atlanta. 

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 19: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans dribbles against Ben Simmons #10 of the Brooklyn Nets during the first half at Barclays Center on October 19, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Zion Williamson dribbles past Ben Simmons. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Unfortunately, not much has changed. 

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And it’s not like he was dishing out dimes with any great regularity to his prolific scoring cohorts Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. 

Simmons finished with five assists and five rebounds to go with his four points, while also turning the ball over three times and fouling out in 23 minutes.

His plus-minus was a brutal -26.

It’s only one game, the smallest of sample sizes and way too early to be reaching for anything resembling a panic button.

Simmons could possibly just have been rusty and hopefully he’s on top of the mental health concerns which plagued him along with a back injury last season even after he got his wish to be traded from the 76ers. 

But he needs to get aggressive or he will be a non-factor.

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“I just think he’s rusty, the guy hasn’t played for over a year,” coach Steve Nash said in defence of Simmons in his post-match media conference. “He’s still getting used to referees, defence, offence, this is a process for Ben.

“He’s shown glimpses of the player we know he is and can be but it’s not easy. We’re here to support him, push him, coach him up and try to get him to a place where he can play to a level he’s played at in the past.

“There’s a lot on his plate but as long as he continues to build his confidence and play hard and play with force, we’re fine with him making mistakes as he grows into this.”

Continues? It didn’t look like he started to play hard or with force against the Pelicans.

After an off-season of turmoil centred around Durant wanting a trade and Nash fired, as well as Irving looking to get out the door, the Nets are likely to have itchy trigger fingers early in the season if the results continue on this path. 

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Simmons’ once-promising career, which has already featured three All-Star appearances and an all-NBA Third Team selection in 2020, could follow a path like other high draft picks who get shuttled around from team to team in the second half of their career as they become more trouble than they’re worth. 

Random observations from season’s first two nights

Zion is back: The former No.1 draft pick is not as hefty as he was before being sidelined for a year with a foot injury but he’s still too powerful for defenders in the paint, tallying 25 points with all 11 makes coming close to the rim. He notched nine rebounds, four steals and three assists for good measure to cause Brooklyn nightmares. 

Hard for Daniels to get game time: The Pelicans have such a deep roster that Australian rookie Dyson Daniels may initially struggle to get on the floor. The No.8 draft pick was only given three minutes of garbage time in Brooklyn and missed his only lay-up attempt but dished off a couple of nice assists. 

Celtics didn’t miss a beat: For all the off-season drama about Ime Udoka being suspended for the season, Boston’s machine looked like it had picked up from last season’s playoff form with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum firing in the win over Philadelphia. The addition of former rookie of the year Malcolm Brogdon as a steadying hand will be significant.

Jock’s landed in a good spot: Boomers big man Jock Landale got 10 minutes off the bench in his Phoenix debut after being traded from San Antonio in the off-season as they stormed home to beat Dallas. His seven points and three rebounds were an encouraging start for Landale, who is ahead of Dario Saric in the back-up centre pecking order.

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Green light for Josh: Fellow Aussie Josh Green also had more game time than usual in the same game. After averaging 11 minutes in his rookie season and 15 last year, the Dallas guard was hs team’s best player in the plus-minus at +18 in his 18 minutes against the Suns. He only came up with one point and two assists on offence but gave them plenty of defensive clout with a block, four rebounds, and a steal.

Luca needs more support: The Mavs faded badly against the Suns and centre Christian Wood, used off the bench, made a promising start in his Dallas debut with 25 points but Spencer Dinwiddie was the only other player to score more than 10. 

Lakers need to make that trade: Russell Westbrook is not part of this team, as we saw with his pre-season huddle snub, and it’s not working with him alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, as was again evident in the opening-night loss to Golden State. He put up 19 points and 11 rebounds – the Lakers need to trade him soon while before his value plummets further.

Giddey up for threes: Australian rising star Josh Giddey has been working with legendary shooting coach Chip Engelland in the off-season and has clearly been told by OKC to not be afraid to let fire from outside after shooting at a dismal 26.3% from three as a rookie. He took seven attempts in the Thunder’s first-up loss to Minnesota and despite only making two this time around, he’s been knocking them down in the pre-season and will clearly be looking to add that more and more to his repertoire this season.

Giddey ended up with 14 points and 11 redbounds while Ousmane Dieng got his NBA debut after his stint at the New Zealand Breakers last season, getting nine minutes but struggling to make an impact.

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Jazz beat Denver? This one is impossible to explain. Denver are supposed to be contenders, Utah are meant to be tanking yet they smoked them 123-102. Jamal Murray had minimal impact in his first game since an ACL tear late in the 2020-21 season with just 12 points and the Nuggets were a -19 during his 25 minutes.

No Delly – no wonder Kings lost: The Sacramento Kings had the temerity to sign Matthew Dellavedova and then not unleash him on Damian Lillard. No wonder Portland won 115-108. 

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