Ben Simmons (not) back for Game 4

[tonydelk]

How will this affect the game?  Who loses minutes for Brooklyn.  Will his playmaking and D fit it chemistry wise immediately.  Will his lack of shooting affect the scoring of Brooklyn.

If the C's win game 3 then I don't think it will matter.  I'm not sure what kind of impact he will have but I feel throwing him in there as a hail mary isn't fair.  What if he stinks.  How will Brooklyn fans react to him.  He shut down with Philly after he was shredded by their fans.

https://nesn.com/2022/04/nba-rumors-ben-simmons-to-make-season-debut-in-game-4-of-celtics-nets/

[Birdman]

Will he be in basketball shape? And the chemistry with players?

[nickagneta]

Will not make a difference.

Brooklyn most likely doesn't use him more than 15-20 minutes per game. There is no way he has NBA playoff conditioning and anything beyond those minutes probably means a good drop off in quality of play from him.

And you have to wonder, what type of quality will he give to the team, one he hasn't even had 5 on 5 practices with? How does he bounce back in his first few games after almost a whole year not playing basketball while recovering from mental issues and a herniated disk?

We have seen here in Boston what great players can look like immediately after coming back from injury after a very long layoff. And these players got to practice with the team and knew the system before their first game back.

[Goldstar88]

I think it’s crazy to think that Simmons won’t help them. Nets just need him to be a role player. Play defense, rebound and pass the ball. He’s 25, so I don’t think it will take him long to get in good enough shape to play 15-20mins. Simmons has been first team all defense and can guard the 1-5. He’s going to help them.

[hpantazo]

I think it’s crazy to think that Simmons won’t help them. Nets just need him to be a role player. Play defense, rebound and pass the ball. He’s 25, so I don’t think it will take him long to get in good enough shape to play 15-20mins. Simmons has been first team all defense and can guard the 1-5. He’s going to help them.

He will help them in some ways and hurt them in others. If he had played with these guys before and if they were a vet team that has been together through the playoffs already with their head coach I could see them possibly integrating him back in smoothly, but there are going to be issues in this case. That's unavoidable. They also won't have the time to work out these issues. I'm sure he will make some nice plays on both ends, and he will also blow some defensive assignments and turn the ball over.

[Who]

No point bringing him back if they are down 0-3.

[Vermont Green]

I'll believe it when I see it.

Things just don't add up.  Some one is putting this out there for some agenda it seems to me.  I don't know what that agenda is but it seems unlikely to me that he goes from 3 on 3 to playoff ready by Monday.

In any case, I am not worried.  It's not that Simmons isn't a really good player, I just don't see how he is going to be physically and perhaps more importantly mentally ready to be inserted into the intensity level of this series.  I think he would have difficulties even if this was a Wednesday game in Sacramento or whatever, much less into what will be on the line on Monday.

This series didn't need more drama or intrigue but I guess it is going to get some.

[Roy H.]

... it seems unlikely to me that he goes from 3 on 3 to playoff ready by Monday.

I think he was playing 4-on-4, and that's because Nash said they didn't have ten players ready to practice.

But I agree, the various reports in the media have been all over the place.  One minute he's not even running due to his back, the next he's engaging in full-contact practice.

[Big333223]

Hasn't played a game in a year, has never played with most of these teammates before... I say if he gets on the court the Celtics should go at him right away. I don't think he'll be up to the test.

[Vermont Green]

Steve Nash says:

Nash was asked specifically about the Woj report regarding  a “looming” Game 4 return.

“That’s news to me. I don’t think we’re targeting any game,” Nash said, pouring cold water on the idea. “I think we’re trying to see how he develops, how he progresses, and that’s something that with the recent history since the trade this has not been straight forward.”

My main point is that various comments aren't lining up.  Maybe game 4 is a real target and the Nets just don't want to say it out loud.  Maybe it isn't a real target.  But someone seems to be putting this out there for some reason.  Not sure why the Nets would want to both leak it and deny it but who knows.  The last thing Simmons needs is more pressure on him.

[footey]

He'd help them on D, hurt them on O.  Just like with the Sixers.

[SCeltic34]

I imagine they'll play him at the 5 spot, take Claxton's minutes.  They don't have bigs that stretch the floor anyway.

Ben has never been a playoff performer.  He'll help in some ways - especially transition offense where the C's got torched in game 2 - but very likely be a burden in others, especially in half court offense.  Not concerned about him.  He'll have to prove it first.

[gift]

Not sure coming back to face this Celtics team right now is the best thing for Ben's psyche, but whatever.

[Phantom255x]

The C's should honestly consider doubling Simmons and swarming him when he brings the ball up and see if he can make the right reads and passes. I can easily see him turning the ball over as he tries to shake off the rust.

[Who]

One of the hardest, probably the hardest, thing to do coming back from an injury is hitting your jump-shots. The longer the shot the harder it is. To be in game-shape, game-rhythm.

But Ben Simmons doesn't shoot jump-shots.

Interior scorers perform better upon returning from injury than shooters do. Defenders & rebounders better than offensive orientated players.

I reckon his skill-set bodes well for a productive and useful return to action.

So too does the alternative options meaning BKN's pathetic backup forwards which even a 60% fit Ben Simmons is clearly better than so he'll be almost certainly a worthwhile upgrade over them.