When Will the Nets Panic & Bring Out Simmons?

[SHAQATTACK]

Simmons being on the court in the last minute is more valuable to the Celtics cause than Nets IMO  If Celtics need the ball back or stop a basket or a run ,  I know who I’m going to foul to stop play.

[sgrogan]

If Simmons was in the game on the final possession there is no way Tatum gets that easy of a layup.  That is what Simmons can provide.  In key moments, he can play a big role on defense.

Would Simmons been on Tatum at that point?   Even if he was on the floor, would there have been time for him to switch on to Tatum?

I would guess that he would have been the close out guy and Marcus couldn't make the pass.

[Atzar]

If Simmons was in the game on the final possession there is no way Tatum gets that easy of a layup.  That is what Simmons can provide.  In key moments, he can play a big role on defense.

Would Simmons been on Tatum at that point?   Even if he was on the floor, would there have been time for him to switch on to Tatum?

I think it's likely that Simmons isn't even on the court.  His FT shooting makes him a liability offensively in the fourth quarter, and the fact that Ime played out the possession rather than using a timeout would not have given the Nets an opportunity to sub him in for defense. 

[Moranis]

If Simmons was in the game on the final possession there is no way Tatum gets that easy of a layup.  That is what Simmons can provide.  In key moments, he can play a big role on defense.

Would Simmons been on Tatum at that point?   Even if he was on the floor, would there have been time for him to switch on to Tatum?

I think it's likely that Simmons isn't even on the court.  His FT shooting makes him a liability offensively in the fourth quarter, and the fact that Ime played out the possession rather than using a timeout would not have given the Nets an opportunity to sub him in for defense.

The last stoppage was after Kyrie's 3.  That is when Simmons would have been inserted and frankly the Nets last offensive possession couldn't have been any worse with Simmons on the floor because they got a long last second contested 3 pointer from Durant after Irving held the ball for 15 seconds.   

[celticsclay]

Has there been any update that Simmons is even able to run yet?

[Phantom255x]

Has there been any update that Simmons is even able to run yet?

Here you go:

https://twitter.com/NickFriedell/status/1516467918988627970?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Steve Nash says Ben Simmons has been cleared for contact. He got some 4-on-4 work in yesterday. Nash said he came through it well

Not even 5 on 5 lol and I'm pretty sure only recently he actually started facing teammates in the rehab process.

He might be back Game 4. I'd love to just have the C's foul him a bunch in the 2nd half. Take away shots from KD + Kyrie and force Simmons to drain all the FTs

[Moranis]

If the Nets lose tonight, I think we see Simmons for game 3.  If the Nets win tonight, then I'm not sure he goes in game 3, but would expect game 4.  If the is healthy I see no reason why he wouldn't play, especially at home.

[johnnygreen]

Has there been any update that Simmons is even able to run yet?

Here you go:

https://twitter.com/NickFriedell/status/1516467918988627970?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Steve Nash says Ben Simmons has been cleared for contact. He got some 4-on-4 work in yesterday. Nash said he came through it well

Not even 5 on 5 lol and I'm pretty sure only recently he actually started facing teammates in the rehab process.

He might be back Game 4. I'd love to just have the C's foul him a bunch in the 2nd half. Take away shots from KD + Kyrie and force Simmons to drain all the FTs

I hope Boston doesn't sink to that level of playing hack-a-Simmons. Frankly, if they have to resort to that, then the Celtics don't deserve to win.

[slamtheking]

Has there been any update that Simmons is even able to run yet?

Here you go:

https://twitter.com/NickFriedell/status/1516467918988627970?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Steve Nash says Ben Simmons has been cleared for contact. He got some 4-on-4 work in yesterday. Nash said he came through it well

Not even 5 on 5 lol and I'm pretty sure only recently he actually started facing teammates in the rehab process.

He might be back Game 4. I'd love to just have the C's foul him a bunch in the 2nd half. Take away shots from KD + Kyrie and force Simmons to drain all the FTs

I hope Boston doesn't sink to that level of playing hack-a-Simmons. Frankly, if they have to resort to that, then the Celtics don't deserve to win.

no reason to apply hack-a-Simmons unless they're behind in a tight game.  can't see that happening when Simmons returns

[angryguy77]

Has there been any update that Simmons is even able to run yet?

Here you go:

https://twitter.com/NickFriedell/status/1516467918988627970?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Steve Nash says Ben Simmons has been cleared for contact. He got some 4-on-4 work in yesterday. Nash said he came through it well

Not even 5 on 5 lol and I'm pretty sure only recently he actually started facing teammates in the rehab process.

He might be back Game 4. I'd love to just have the C's foul him a bunch in the 2nd half. Take away shots from KD + Kyrie and force Simmons to drain all the FTs

I hope Boston doesn't sink to that level of playing hack-a-Simmons. Frankly, if they have to resort to that, then the Celtics don't deserve to win.

Why?
Since when is it a sign of weakness to exploit a weakness? FT's are part of the game, if the dude can't make them, then force the Nets to decide if he's worth keeping on the court.

[Moranis]

I'm not even sure hack-a-Simmons will actually work.  Sure he was awful in the playoffs at the end last year and generally has been a poor FT shooter, but he is 60% for his career (and even last year), and that generally isn't bad enough to have a hack-a-player strategy work to your advantage. 

[Vermont Green]

I'm not even sure hack-a-Simmons will actually work.  Sure he was awful in the playoffs at the end last year and generally has been a poor FT shooter, but he is 60% for his career (and even last year), and that generally isn't bad enough to have a hack-a-player strategy work to your advantage.

You don't necessarily need to go all out hack-a-Ben but we should not let him take any shot (within reason) without fouling him.  Force him to the line.  Don't let him get anything easy.  You know he does not want to have to make free throws in a tense game.  If he makes 60%, so be it but I bet he doesn't.  Put some pressure on him and see how he responds.

I doubt he is anywhere near the court at the end of the game so there likely won't be an opportunity for that type of hack-a-Ben anyway.  And that is if he plays at all which I still have my doubts.

[jpotter33]

Still think it’d be super dumb to bring him back at all in this situation. Given both his injuries and the psychological component, let alone his newness with the team, I just don’t see any logic where the potential benefits of him coming back outweigh the risks.

You have to think long-term with Simmons. Unless you think this is the last chance you have to really compete or there’s such a high chance that you win it all if you bring him back that it justifies the risks - which I think is questionable at best given the hole they dug themselves - I think you do your best with Ky and KD this year and just bring him back at the start of next season when you can make a full run.

[celticsclay]

This simmons thing is kind of funny. He hasn’t run in months. Is not even olaying 5 on 5 right now. Would be absolutely insane if he made any kind of impact.

[ozgod]

Still think it’d be super dumb to bring him back at all in this situation. Given both his injuries and the psychological component, let alone his newness with the team, I just don’t see any logic where the potential benefits of him coming back outweigh the risks.

You have to think long-term with Simmons. Unless you think this is the last chance you have to really compete or there’s such a high chance that you win it all if you bring him back that it justifies the risks - which I think is questionable at best given the hole they dug themselves - I think you do your best with Ky and KD this year and just bring him back at the start of next season when you can make a full run.

I think it's Rich Paul pushing the whole narrative of him playing. Nash and KD don't sound enthusiastic at all.

Nash remained noncommittal on a timeline for any potential return for Simmons. The Nets trail 1-0 entering Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first-round series on Wednesday night.

"There's no other way than him to say, 'I'm ready,'" Nash said after Wednesday's shootaround. "Especially after an absence this long. So whenever he is ready, it's going to have to be on him to say, 'I feel comfortable. I feel ready to go. I want to play and I want to contribute.'

"We can't push him places when you have been out this long. It's got to be something where he is definitely comfortable and ready to play."

"I think it's more of a collective decision," Nash said. "I think they understand that it's bigger than just a linear equation. This has been a prolonged absence. So I think it's more, they're in this together, trying to find a resolution and a time frame to come back where he is safe to play and well enough to contribute."

In the short term, the Nets remain hopeful that he continues to pick up as much as he can on and off the floor through workouts and film sessions.

"If he's able to play at some point, having him kind of become as familiar as possible with what we're doing, because those things change day to day," Nash said. "You're making adjustments -- and so having him be involved in all that stuff, so if he is able to play at some point, he's comfortable."

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33772996/steve-nash-says-ben-simmons-let-brooklyn-nets-know-ready-return

It's not a pickup game he's coming into...it's a high pressure cauldron where the difference between the teams could be measured in inches, a play here or there. Simmons is certainly someone who can turn a game but he can also be exposed, because he hasn't played in a year, and more importantly he hasn't played with the team at all really. I could see them putting him in as a throw of the dice if they were facing elimination if he was fully fit and not at risk of breaking down, but I just think it's too big a risk otherwise. But that's me - maybe Nash is more of a gambler