Sixers star Ben Simmons has been diagnosed with nerve impingement in his lower back and will be re-evaluated in about two weeks, sources tells Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
According to Charania (via Twitter), Simmons, who consulted with multiple in-house and external specialists, will undergo daily treatment and rehab. Although Simmons will be re-evaluated in two weeks, the team isn’t expecting him to be ready to return by that point, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter). The two-week mark is more of an initial benchmark date than a target return date, Woj adds (via Twitter).
Simmons aggravated the injury during Saturday’s loss in Milwaukee and sat out on Monday vs. Atlanta. A two-week absence would cost Simmons at least six more games, including road showdowns with the Clippers and Lakers, and it sounds like he’ll remain on the shelf for even longer than that.
With Simmons out, the Sixers figure to lean more heavily on Alec Burks, Josh Richardson, and Shake Milton when it comes to ball-handling duties. Backup point guard Raul Neto should also move up on the depth chart, though he didn’t play at all on Monday. Philadelphia could also explore the buyout market for another ball-handler, but the club would have to waive a player to make room on its 15-man roster.
The 76ers are currently in the midst of a race for home-court advantage in the first round of the postseason. At 36-22, they hold the No. 5 seed in the East, just a half-game back of the 36-21 Heat.
Try out for next years backup point guard?
Also, maybe trying to see how thry play with shooting at the point?
They looked good without him. Joel thrived.
Saw that.. Up 30+ during their last game I believe.
Ben Simmons for Trae Young?
And a first from Atl?
Oh boy, what a shame can’t wait for him to be back, he is such a beast, this year so far he was the DPOY!
Philly shouldn’t be fighting for the 4th spot, either they get the 3rd or drop to the 6th!
The top 4 in the east is set: Bucks, Raptors, Celtics, Heat.
Philly will continue battling the Pacers for the #5 seed.
How is the top 4 in the east set? Philly is half a game back of the Heat.
Maybe give IT a call. Leagues tallest PG in Simmons to the shortest.
The Sixers will start to fix their problems once they finally realize Simmons is not a PG. He’s a PF who gets a lot of assists, just like Draymond Green. Do the Warriors try to use him as their PG? Of course not.
You never know with these Sixers.
Shake Milton will likely start. Burks loses some of his usefulness with no Simmons. Burks is not really a takeover guy, more like a handy plan B.
Embiid could thrive though, already has, going 49p-14r-3a with 3 steals and running off Dedmon quickly.
Where have I heard that word impingement before…oh yea, Kyrie Irving’s injury. I hope it doesn’t have the same ending. Back issues suck!
Simmons is softest dude in nba