Ben Simmons (not) back for Game 4

[Phantom255x]

I wonder how Nets fans feel seeing Ben Simmons dressed up like a clown on the sidelines instead of helping his team who were down 2-0 (now 3-0) in the series 

 

Meanwhile Timelord came back from a meniscus tear before Simmons. Embiid is playing with a thumb injury that could be a big deal. And hell, even Blake Griffin gutted it out and gave the Nets some great minutes tonight.

But nah Simmons who has sat out an entire year already needs an additional day to "ramp up" lol

[pokeKingCurtis]

Saw somewhere on here (originally on Reddit)

Ben Simmons might end up being the only player to play in back to back elimination games

Now I really want that to happen

[jpotter33]

Yeah, would probably be one of the dumbest moves in NBA history to bring back Simmons in this series. Makes absolutely no sense. He's not going to be a difference-maker at this point, and there's much more to lose/risk than benefit from this.

[SHAQATTACK]

He might lock down Tatum and Brown 

[pokeKingCurtis]

Yeah, would probably be one of the dumbest moves in NBA history to bring back Simmons in this series. Makes absolutely no sense. He's not going to be a difference-maker at this point, and there's much more to lose/risk than benefit from this.

He brought in Blake Griffin today

[tarheelsxxiii]

Remember when Kyrie said they wouldn't bring him back in a panic? That was funny.

[colincb]

Yeah, would probably be one of the dumbest moves in NBA history to bring back Simmons in this series. Makes absolutely no sense. He's not going to be a difference-maker at this point, and there's much more to lose/risk than benefit from this.

TP. This series is over, but Nash's job may be on the line...

[Phantom255x]

Yeah, would probably be one of the dumbest moves in NBA history to bring back Simmons in this series. Makes absolutely no sense. He's not going to be a difference-maker at this point, and there's much more to lose/risk than benefit from this.

TP. This series is over, but Nash's job may be on the line...

Oh it's 100% on the line. Here's why:

Kyrie knows he'll be scapegoated if they lose the series for a lot of reasons (Harden leaving b/c of Kyrie's vaccination status, the vaccination status affecting his availability most of the season, how he's looked this series after Game 1, him causing problems with teams after leaving Cleveland, etc.). The Nets were 1st in the East as late as January but then lost like 6+ spots in seeding as they tried to integrate Kyrie (due to his vaxx status affecting availability) which made it difficult for the whole Nets team

So Kyrie has been trying to scapegoat Nash. Look at his press conference after the Game 2 loss, he basically said the C's coaches and system was way better now than Brooklyn's (aka, Nash) and Kyrie also has a Player Option. SO... he can leverage it and say, "get rid of Nash or I'm out" and usually the team will always pick the player. Someone's going to take the fall and it'll be Nash.

Now don't get me wrong, I think Nash is overrated and literally does nothing (just a puppet) but Kyrie is still the bigger problem on that team. I wouldn't be surprised if the entire Nets locker room not-named KD actually despises Kyrie. Harden did and he has the starpower where he could request a trade and he did just that to PHI

[pokeKingCurtis]

Yeah, would probably be one of the dumbest moves in NBA history to bring back Simmons in this series. Makes absolutely no sense. He's not going to be a difference-maker at this point, and there's much more to lose/risk than benefit from this.

TP. This series is over, but Nash's job may be on the line...

Oh it's 100% on the line. Here's why:

Kyrie knows he'll be scapegoated if they lose the series for a lot of reasons (Harden leaving b/c of Kyrie's vaccination status, the vaccination status affecting his availability most of the season, how he's looked this series after Game 1, him causing problems with teams after leaving Cleveland, etc.). The Nets were 1st in the East as late as January but then lost like 6+ spots in seeding as they tried to integrate Kyrie (due to his vaxx status affecting availability) which made it difficult for the whole Nets team

So Kyrie has been trying to scapegoat Nash. Look at his press conference after the Game 2 loss, he basically said the C's coaches and system was way better now than Brooklyn's (aka, Nash) and Kyrie also has a Player Option. SO... he can leverage it and say, "get rid of Nash or I'm out" and usually the team will always pick the player. Someone's going to take the fall and it'll be Nash.

Now don't get me wrong, I think Nash is overrated and literally does nothing (just a puppet) but Kyrie is still the bigger problem on that team. I wouldn't be surprised if the entire Nets locker room not-named KD actually despises Kyrie. Harden did and he has the starpower where he could request a trade and he did just that to PHI

LOL

Jeez

Kyrie could have had it all on the celts...man

[Roy H.]

Yeah, would probably be one of the dumbest moves in NBA history to bring back Simmons in this series. Makes absolutely no sense. He's not going to be a difference-maker at this point, and there's much more to lose/risk than benefit from this.

It depends on how much pressure he perceives.  Maybe coming back down 3-0 is easier mentally than the series being 1-2, 2-2, etc.

[colincb]

Yeah, would probably be one of the dumbest moves in NBA history to bring back Simmons in this series. Makes absolutely no sense. He's not going to be a difference-maker at this point, and there's much more to lose/risk than benefit from this.

TP. This series is over, but Nash's job may be on the line...

Oh it's 100% on the line. Here's why:

Kyrie knows he'll be scapegoated if they lose the series for a lot of reasons (Harden leaving b/c of Kyrie's vaccination status, the vaccination status affecting his availability most of the season, how he's looked this series after Game 1, him causing problems with teams after leaving Cleveland, etc.). The Nets were 1st in the East as late as January but then lost like 6+ spots in seeding as they tried to integrate Kyrie (due to his vaxx status affecting availability) which made it difficult for the whole Nets team

So Kyrie has been trying to scapegoat Nash. Look at his press conference after the Game 2 loss, he basically said the C's coaches and system was way better now than Brooklyn's (aka, Nash) and Kyrie also has a Player Option. SO... he can leverage it and say, "get rid of Nash or I'm out" and usually the team will always pick the player. Someone's going to take the fall and it'll be Nash.

Now don't get me wrong, I think Nash is overrated and literally does nothing (just a puppet) but Kyrie is still the bigger problem on that team. I wouldn't be surprised if the entire Nets locker room not-named KD actually despises Kyrie. Harden did and he has the starpower where he could request a trade and he did just that to PHI

Somebody's got to walk the plank and it isn't going to be KD or Cryrie.

[slamtheking]

Yeah, would probably be one of the dumbest moves in NBA history to bring back Simmons in this series. Makes absolutely no sense. He's not going to be a difference-maker at this point, and there's much more to lose/risk than benefit from this.

TP. This series is over, but Nash's job may be on the line...

Oh it's 100% on the line. Here's why:

Kyrie knows he'll be scapegoated if they lose the series for a lot of reasons (Harden leaving b/c of Kyrie's vaccination status, the vaccination status affecting his availability most of the season, how he's looked this series after Game 1, him causing problems with teams after leaving Cleveland, etc.). The Nets were 1st in the East as late as January but then lost like 6+ spots in seeding as they tried to integrate Kyrie (due to his vaxx status affecting availability) which made it difficult for the whole Nets team

So Kyrie has been trying to scapegoat Nash. Look at his press conference after the Game 2 loss, he basically said the C's coaches and system was way better now than Brooklyn's (aka, Nash) and Kyrie also has a Player Option. SO... he can leverage it and say, "get rid of Nash or I'm out" and usually the team will always pick the player. Someone's going to take the fall and it'll be Nash.

Now don't get me wrong, I think Nash is overrated and literally does nothing (just a puppet) but Kyrie is still the bigger problem on that team. I wouldn't be surprised if the entire Nets locker room not-named KD actually despises Kyrie. Harden did and he has the starpower where he could request a trade and he did just that to PHI

If I was running the Nets, I'd move on from Kyrie if at all possible this offseason and do everything I could to keep Bruce Brown.  in a vacuum, Kyrie's the better player but Brown is a really solid player and does the little things that help the team win.  they should be able to really surround Durant with talent in a Kyrie deal.

having said that, I really want Brad to take a run at getting Brown for the C's.

[Phantom255x]

Yeah, would probably be one of the dumbest moves in NBA history to bring back Simmons in this series. Makes absolutely no sense. He's not going to be a difference-maker at this point, and there's much more to lose/risk than benefit from this.

TP. This series is over, but Nash's job may be on the line...

Oh it's 100% on the line. Here's why:

Kyrie knows he'll be scapegoated if they lose the series for a lot of reasons (Harden leaving b/c of Kyrie's vaccination status, the vaccination status affecting his availability most of the season, how he's looked this series after Game 1, him causing problems with teams after leaving Cleveland, etc.). The Nets were 1st in the East as late as January but then lost like 6+ spots in seeding as they tried to integrate Kyrie (due to his vaxx status affecting availability) which made it difficult for the whole Nets team

So Kyrie has been trying to scapegoat Nash. Look at his press conference after the Game 2 loss, he basically said the C's coaches and system was way better now than Brooklyn's (aka, Nash) and Kyrie also has a Player Option. SO... he can leverage it and say, "get rid of Nash or I'm out" and usually the team will always pick the player. Someone's going to take the fall and it'll be Nash.

Now don't get me wrong, I think Nash is overrated and literally does nothing (just a puppet) but Kyrie is still the bigger problem on that team. I wouldn't be surprised if the entire Nets locker room not-named KD actually despises Kyrie. Harden did and he has the starpower where he could request a trade and he did just that to PHI

Somebody's got to walk the plank and it isn't going to be KD or Cryrie.

Yep. Though I wouldn't be surprised if KD is sick of Kyrie too. I mean, they can still be friends but that's similar to how you might be great friends with a co-worker but HATE actually working with them due to work-styles being different and such 

If Kyrie does leave though (like he opts-out or gets dealt) then the Nets might be screwed. I don't see KD staying either unless they somehow acquire another star which will be difficult to do.

But I am curious, because it's obvious BKN only added Kyrie to also lure KD (his friend). If Kyrie leaves BKN, where does he go? Kyrie to a lesser extent is like Antonio Brown and even AB only latched on with Tampa for a bit because Brady liked him and is a great friend. But after AB left Tampa due to his crazy actions he's not on any team. Where is Kyrie's next team IF it's not Brooklyn? What team or GM takes/assumes that risk?

[colincb]

ESPN:

Coach Steve Nash said Simmons scrimmaged 3-on-3 Saturday morning and had no setbacks. He said it's possible Simmons plays in Game 4 but cautioned that given his long layoff, with his herniated disk at the end of it, that there was more to consider than if Simmons felt good after his workouts.

"There's a lot of bigger picture, bigger context to how he's feeling, how able he would be to adapt to the environment," Nash said. "It's a little different than playing a game that's stashed away in the middle of the regular season, so I think that there's a few factors at play here to evaluate when he's ready to play."

[Phantom255x]

ESPN:

Coach Steve Nash said Simmons scrimmaged 3-on-3 Saturday morning and had no setbacks. He said it's possible Simmons plays in Game 4 but cautioned that given his long layoff, with his herniated disk at the end of it, that there was more to consider than if Simmons felt good after his workouts.

"There's a lot of bigger picture, bigger context to how he's feeling, how able he would be to adapt to the environment," Nash said. "It's a little different than playing a game that's stashed away in the middle of the regular season, so I think that there's a few factors at play here to evaluate when he's ready to play."

The people pushing the narrative that Simmons will return for sure Game 4 is Rich Paul, Woj and a few other ESPN guys. Nash has basically been saying this the entire time and we haven't heard much else definitively about Simmons.

I mean, I know they say he's back Game 4 but if we find out he's not playing Game 4 will anyone really be surprised? I wouldn't. I think he'll play limited minutes but if he doesn't, I wouldn't be shocked