NEW YORK – With hypothesis surrounding Ben Simmons’ potential debut with the Brooklyn Nets persevering with to be a speaking level throughout the NBA, Nets star Kevin Durant admitted Thursday that he is getting ready as if Simmons will not return because the Nets put together for it. The Jap Convention quarter-final match with the Boston Celtics.
“I do not anticipate him to play,” Durant stated after coaching on Thursday. “That is simpler for me. I do not put any stress on Ben to get on the market and hoop. So I do not anticipate him to do something however simply to get his physique proper and get wholesome as quick as he can. So in my thoughts I am getting ready as if we have been enjoying With our group.”
Simmons, who was acquired by the Nets earlier than the February buying and selling deadline from the Philadelphia 76ers, has not performed in an NBA sport in practically a 12 months after requesting a deal from the Sixers final season, citing psychological well being issues. Simmons has had some again ache since late February and hasn’t been allowed to participate in train since coming to Brooklyn. Nets coach Steve Nash stated Thursday that Simmons remains to be not doing any “basketball conditioning” and continues to do particular person rehab work.
“It is as much as Ben’s again,” Nash stated. “It is less than me, both of us, apart from his again – and the way we can assist with that resolution, nice. There’s an opportunity that Ben will come again, and there is a probability he will not come again. So I believe for us we must always concentrate on the group; supporting Ben and his journey again to Earth, however in Identical time we do not have time to lose concentrate on the group that’s enjoying.
“Ben is a cornerstone of the franchise – however proper now it is about supporting him bodily and mentally to get again all the way down to earth and prepare the group to offer it their greatest for not less than the primary few video games of the collection. Internally, we’re not sitting right here saying ‘Ben goes again on this collection.'” “We’ll see what occurs.”
For his half, Durant stated he would not even let his thoughts take into consideration whether or not Simmons would return within the post-season.
“I do not even give it some thought,” Durant stated of the potential emotional uplift from Simmons’ return. “Everyone knows what sort of participant Ben is. And you may put up eventualities in your thoughts by yourself about what he’d seem like, however I am not going there as a result of we solely take it sooner or later at a time.”
Nash lately stated he would not have any hassle with Simmons on his Nets debut in a playoff match, despite the fact that he hasn’t performed in practically a 12 months. When requested why he was so assured on this situation on condition that it had been so lengthy since Simmons performed an NBA sport, Nash’s reply was easy.
“He is a really gifted participant,” Nash stated. “I believe we’ll have to offer him an opportunity if he is wholesome to play.”
Veteran goalkeeper Goran Dragic stated on Thursday that Simmons’ debut, each time it happens, will present a lift to the Nets group which have handled accidents and quite a lot of points all through the season.
“I really feel actually good since you’re getting an additional physique,” Dragic stated. “And along with his abilities, what he can convey to the desk is exclusive. He can swap from 1 to five. He is an awesome defender. So everyone knows he can push the tempo, he is an awesome passing, so he is one other form of facilitator.
“You get an awesome physique as properly for each offensive and defensive rebounds… that can positively assist when you have got a KD, [Andre] Drummond after which Ben. It is a nice assortment.”
“After all,” Nash stated he thought concerning the prospects of Simmons within the lineup, “however not like tomorrow.”
“Every time he comes again,” Nash stated. “After all, once we made the deal, I believe everybody imagined how Ben would match into our group. However I am like, I am sitting right here anticipating him to come back again any minute. When he is prepared and he is again, it’s going to be nice. However within the meantime, we needed to prepare the group. And ensuring we give ourselves an opportunity to compete even with out him.”
