Windhorst: Simmons eyeing a Game 4, 5, or 6 return

[Phantom255x]

So he's eyeing a Game 4, 5 OR 6 return, but not Game 7? 

I mean seriously, Games 4 and 6 are about 4-5 days apart from each other, that's kind of a big difference. Anyone could have reported this lol

[SparzWizard]

Reminds me of that series against Miami's Big 3 10 years or so ago where the Celtics were winning the series and looks favourites to go through but then Chris Bosh returns and changes the whole tide of the series.

Bosh did not dominate by any means but he was enough of a threat to change the series. Miami had no reliable big man shooting or scoring without him. They were a two-man team with Wade and LeBron. Boston was able to load up on them and did not need to be worried about others. Bosh came back and gave them a floor spacing big man. He pulled KG out of the paint as the defensive anchor. That was enough to swing the series in the other direction.

I wonder if Ben Simmons can do similarly for Brooklyn ...

I actually had the same thought. Miami was just so much better with Bosh.  The series was over the minute he stepped foot on the floor.  I have no idea what Simmons will be able to do, but if he can move, he could have a tremendous impact defensively.  Even just altering one defensive possession could alter the outcome of a close game and a close series.

That series went neck and neck except for Game 3 and Game 6. Game 6, Lebron went supersaiyan on the Celtics. Nobody was stopping him that game.

Just wished had we won Game 1 or Game 2 we would've won the series. Ugh dumb refs.

[Vermont Green]

Reminds me of that series against Miami's Big 3 10 years or so ago where the Celtics were winning the series and looks favourites to go through but then Chris Bosh returns and changes the whole tide of the series.

Bosh did not dominate by any means but he was enough of a threat to change the series. Miami had no reliable big man shooting or scoring without him. They were a two-man team with Wade and LeBron. Boston was able to load up on them and did not need to be worried about others. Bosh came back and gave them a floor spacing big man. He pulled KG out of the paint as the defensive anchor. That was enough to swing the series in the other direction.

I wonder if Ben Simmons can do similarly for Brooklyn ...

I actually had the same thought. Miami was just so much better with Bosh.  The series was over the minute he stepped foot on the floor.  I have no idea what Simmons will be able to do, but if he can move, he could have a tremendous impact defensively.  Even just altering one defensive possession could alter the outcome of a close game and a close series.

Bosh had played the whole season with the team though so he was stepping back into a role that he had already played in.  Simmons will be playing for the first time in a year and with players that he has never played with before.

I think Simmons will be fine on defense, if they want to put him out there to cover Tatum for some stretch, I can see that being effective, I can't see him doing much on offense though.  He is going to be afraid to shoot for one and it will be very hard for him to be a facilitator when he has never played with the group.

I see spot minutes for him at best with no real impact on this series.  BKN probably expects to win the series and will be trying to get Simmons ready to help at some point down the line.  To do that, they need to get him out there.  They have to start somewhere.

[celticsclay]

Reminds me of that series against Miami's Big 3 10 years or so ago where the Celtics were winning the series and looks favourites to go through but then Chris Bosh returns and changes the whole tide of the series.

Bosh did not dominate by any means but he was enough of a threat to change the series. Miami had no reliable big man shooting or scoring without him. They were a two-man team with Wade and LeBron. Boston was able to load up on them and did not need to be worried about others. Bosh came back and gave them a floor spacing big man. He pulled KG out of the paint as the defensive anchor. That was enough to swing the series in the other direction.

I wonder if Ben Simmons can do similarly for Brooklyn ...

Bosh had only missed like 1-2 weeks of games if memory serves correct. Simmons, in addition to not playing for the entire year, has never played with this team before. Even worse, he hasn't been able to even practice until recently or play 1 on 1. Can anyone think of a similar situation in modern history? A guy not playing for the entire year, on a new team, making his debut in the playoffs? Feels pretty unprecedented.

[Donoghus]

Reminds me of that series against Miami's Big 3 10 years or so ago where the Celtics were winning the series and looks favourites to go through but then Chris Bosh returns and changes the whole tide of the series.

Bosh did not dominate by any means but he was enough of a threat to change the series. Miami had no reliable big man shooting or scoring without him. They were a two-man team with Wade and LeBron. Boston was able to load up on them and did not need to be worried about others. Bosh came back and gave them a floor spacing big man. He pulled KG out of the paint as the defensive anchor. That was enough to swing the series in the other direction.

I wonder if Ben Simmons can do similarly for Brooklyn ...

Bosh had only missed like 1-2 weeks of games if memory serves correct. Simmons, in addition to not playing for the entire year, has never played with this team before. Even worse, he hasn't been able to even practice until recently or play 1 on 1. Can anyone think of a similar situation in modern history? A guy not playing for the entire year, on a new team, making his debut in the playoffs? Feels pretty unprecedented.

Yeah, I'm having trouble coming up with one. 

One guy that popped into mind was Kyle Schwarber in 2016.  Albeit, different sport and he had played for the same team the year before.  However, he played the first two games of the regular season in early April, got hurt, then didn't play again until Game 1 of the 2016 World Series where he played a pivotal role in the Cubs beating the Indians.

[Moranis]

Reminds me of that series against Miami's Big 3 10 years or so ago where the Celtics were winning the series and looks favourites to go through but then Chris Bosh returns and changes the whole tide of the series.

Bosh did not dominate by any means but he was enough of a threat to change the series. Miami had no reliable big man shooting or scoring without him. They were a two-man team with Wade and LeBron. Boston was able to load up on them and did not need to be worried about others. Bosh came back and gave them a floor spacing big man. He pulled KG out of the paint as the defensive anchor. That was enough to swing the series in the other direction.

I wonder if Ben Simmons can do similarly for Brooklyn ...

I actually had the same thought. Miami was just so much better with Bosh.  The series was over the minute he stepped foot on the floor.  I have no idea what Simmons will be able to do, but if he can move, he could have a tremendous impact defensively.  Even just altering one defensive possession could alter the outcome of a close game and a close series.

That series went neck and neck except for Game 3 and Game 6. Game 6, Lebron went supersaiyan on the Celtics. Nobody was stopping him that game.

Just wished had we won Game 1 or Game 2 we would've won the series. Ugh dumb refs.

Bosh played 14 minutes in game 5 and wasn't very good (Boston won that one by 4), but in game 6 and game 7, Miami won by double digits and Bosh was +16 and +17 in the two games.  Miami was just a different team with Bosh even somewhat healthy.

[Moranis]

Reminds me of that series against Miami's Big 3 10 years or so ago where the Celtics were winning the series and looks favourites to go through but then Chris Bosh returns and changes the whole tide of the series.

Bosh did not dominate by any means but he was enough of a threat to change the series. Miami had no reliable big man shooting or scoring without him. They were a two-man team with Wade and LeBron. Boston was able to load up on them and did not need to be worried about others. Bosh came back and gave them a floor spacing big man. He pulled KG out of the paint as the defensive anchor. That was enough to swing the series in the other direction.

I wonder if Ben Simmons can do similarly for Brooklyn ...

I actually had the same thought. Miami was just so much better with Bosh.  The series was over the minute he stepped foot on the floor.  I have no idea what Simmons will be able to do, but if he can move, he could have a tremendous impact defensively.  Even just altering one defensive possession could alter the outcome of a close game and a close series.

Bosh had played the whole season with the team though so he was stepping back into a role that he had already played in.  Simmons will be playing for the first time in a year and with players that he has never played with before.

I think Simmons will be fine on defense, if they want to put him out there to cover Tatum for some stretch, I can see that being effective, I can't see him doing much on offense though.  He is going to be afraid to shoot for one and it will be very hard for him to be a facilitator when he has never played with the group.

I see spot minutes for him at best with no real impact on this series.  BKN probably expects to win the series and will be trying to get Simmons ready to help at some point down the line.  To do that, they need to get him out there.  They have to start somewhere.

I assume they'd work him back in on defense.  Won't have to do much on offense.  May even tell him not to bother with even shooting. 

[jambr380]

We are 3 days out from the series starting, and reports are he hasn't started paying 5 on 5 yet after not playing since last year's playoffs. It seems like an insane thing for anyone to try, but even more so for him.

Celtics fans should be rooting for this to be true.

Also this:

Ian Begley
@IanBegley
Nets coach Steve Nash says Ben Simmons is still doing individual work at the moment. Still no sprinting for Simmons.

Interesting that Simmons can't sprint, yet he is expected to go out and compete at the highest level in a playoff game. As others have mentioned, it's different for someone like Rob, who just recently played. Simmons will have been sidelined for nearly a year.

[td450]

Reminds me of that series against Miami's Big 3 10 years or so ago where the Celtics were winning the series and looks favourites to go through but then Chris Bosh returns and changes the whole tide of the series.

Bosh did not dominate by any means but he was enough of a threat to change the series. Miami had no reliable big man shooting or scoring without him. They were a two-man team with Wade and LeBron. Boston was able to load up on them and did not need to be worried about others. Bosh came back and gave them a floor spacing big man. He pulled KG out of the paint as the defensive anchor. That was enough to swing the series in the other direction.

I wonder if Ben Simmons can do similarly for Brooklyn ...

I actually had the same thought. Miami was just so much better with Bosh.  The series was over the minute he stepped foot on the floor.  I have no idea what Simmons will be able to do, but if he can move, he could have a tremendous impact defensively.  Even just altering one defensive possession could alter the outcome of a close game and a close series.

Bosh had played the whole season with the team though so he was stepping back into a role that he had already played in.  Simmons will be playing for the first time in a year and with players that he has never played with before.

I think Simmons will be fine on defense, if they want to put him out there to cover Tatum for some stretch, I can see that being effective, I can't see him doing much on offense though.  He is going to be afraid to shoot for one and it will be very hard for him to be a facilitator when he has never played with the group.

I see spot minutes for him at best with no real impact on this series.  BKN probably expects to win the series and will be trying to get Simmons ready to help at some point down the line.  To do that, they need to get him out there.  They have to start somewhere.

I assume they'd work him back in on defense.  Won't have to do much on offense.  May even tell him not to bother with even shooting.

Walking straight into an NBA playoff game against Jayson Tatum when you haven't even run 5 on 5 for months is lunacy. I don't care how good an athlete he is, he won't be able to cover anyone until he gets in some work first.

The only thing that makes any sense here is that they are trying to complicate how the C's prep for the series.

[sgrogan]

Reminds me of that series against Miami's Big 3 10 years or so ago where the Celtics were winning the series and looks favourites to go through but then Chris Bosh returns and changes the whole tide of the series.

Bosh did not dominate by any means but he was enough of a threat to change the series. Miami had no reliable big man shooting or scoring without him. They were a two-man team with Wade and LeBron. Boston was able to load up on them and did not need to be worried about others. Bosh came back and gave them a floor spacing big man. He pulled KG out of the paint as the defensive anchor. That was enough to swing the series in the other direction.

I wonder if Ben Simmons can do similarly for Brooklyn ...

I actually had the same thought. Miami was just so much better with Bosh.  The series was over the minute he stepped foot on the floor.  I have no idea what Simmons will be able to do, but if he can move, he could have a tremendous impact defensively.  Even just altering one defensive possession could alter the outcome of a close game and a close series.

I have to agree. Presumably his minutes would come from Claxton and/or Edwards.
He doesn't need to do anything offensively. If he guards Tatum a couple of minutes per half, that's valuable for BKN.

[celticsclay]

Reminds me of that series against Miami's Big 3 10 years or so ago where the Celtics were winning the series and looks favourites to go through but then Chris Bosh returns and changes the whole tide of the series.

Bosh did not dominate by any means but he was enough of a threat to change the series. Miami had no reliable big man shooting or scoring without him. They were a two-man team with Wade and LeBron. Boston was able to load up on them and did not need to be worried about others. Bosh came back and gave them a floor spacing big man. He pulled KG out of the paint as the defensive anchor. That was enough to swing the series in the other direction.

I wonder if Ben Simmons can do similarly for Brooklyn ...

Bosh had only missed like 1-2 weeks of games if memory serves correct. Simmons, in addition to not playing for the entire year, has never played with this team before. Even worse, he hasn't been able to even practice until recently or play 1 on 1. Can anyone think of a similar situation in modern history? A guy not playing for the entire year, on a new team, making his debut in the playoffs? Feels pretty unprecedented.

Yeah, I'm having trouble coming up with one. 

One guy that popped into mind was Kyle Schwarber in 2016.  Albeit, different sport and he had played for the same team the year before.  However, he played the first two games of the regular season in early April, got hurt, then didn't play again until Game 1 of the 2016 World Series where he played a pivotal role in the Cubs beating the Indians.

Yea, that is such a different situation than basketball in terms of conditioning and how much you coordinate with your teammates on defense or offensive. They don't really talk about baseball players being in "baseball shape" under any condition, let alone a burly weak defensive outfielder. Even, all that aside I also imagine Shwarber was able to take batting practice and live pitching to ramp up, which Simmons hasn't even been able to do the equivalent of.

[celticsclay]

Reminds me of that series against Miami's Big 3 10 years or so ago where the Celtics were winning the series and looks favourites to go through but then Chris Bosh returns and changes the whole tide of the series.

Bosh did not dominate by any means but he was enough of a threat to change the series. Miami had no reliable big man shooting or scoring without him. They were a two-man team with Wade and LeBron. Boston was able to load up on them and did not need to be worried about others. Bosh came back and gave them a floor spacing big man. He pulled KG out of the paint as the defensive anchor. That was enough to swing the series in the other direction.

I wonder if Ben Simmons can do similarly for Brooklyn ...

I actually had the same thought. Miami was just so much better with Bosh.  The series was over the minute he stepped foot on the floor.  I have no idea what Simmons will be able to do, but if he can move, he could have a tremendous impact defensively.  Even just altering one defensive possession could alter the outcome of a close game and a close series.

That series went neck and neck except for Game 3 and Game 6. Game 6, Lebron went supersaiyan on the Celtics. Nobody was stopping him that game.

Just wished had we won Game 1 or Game 2 we would've won the series. Ugh dumb refs.

Bosh played 14 minutes in game 5 and wasn't very good (Boston won that one by 4), but in game 6 and game 7, Miami won by double digits and Bosh was +16 and +17 in the two games.  Miami was just a different team with Bosh even somewhat healthy.

We actually were really competitive in game 7 (was probably my most upsetting loss of the last ten years so I remember it well). We were up 2 with 9 minutes left, but our old guys just simply ran out of gas. We score 2 points in the last minutes. Sucked.

[PAOBoston]

I hope Simmons doesn’t play. I’d feel so bad watching the Cs mentally break this guy on a National stage again.

Realistically, there is no way this guy sees a minute. Has never played with this team, has never practiced, and they just gonna give him minutes in a playoff series? Have a hard time believing that.

[sgrogan]

Who is the best defender on BKN?
Every possession Durant doesn't have to guard Tatum is a plus for BKN.

[pokeKingCurtis]

WIND Horst is always full of hot-air