Nets guard Ben Simmons is showing signs of the player he used to be, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Simmons provided updates throughout the summer, saying he was fully recovered from the knee and back injuries that ended his 2022/23 season and was ready to prove himself again. He has looked sharp through two preseason games, as Lewis observes that his quickness and passing touch have returned and he’s displaying good form on his mid-range jump shots.
“I’m still fast, I still jump high (and) I’m still strong,” Simmons said. “I’ve had to adapt to the game, but I think my (basketball) IQ and the way I play the game, I’m able to affect the game in multiple ways, (even) without the athleticism that, at the end of the day, I got back. I looked OK. I’m getting better.”
A return to form by Simmons would be a best-case scenario for Brooklyn, which owes him $77MM over the next two years. Simmons understands that he’ll always have skeptics, but he’s enjoying the feeling of being able to get back on the court again.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “It feels really good. I’m not really one to talk too much to the media when it’s not needed, so it’s fun to just come out here, play my game and let everyone else do the talking.”
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Nets rookie Noah Clowney looked overmatched at times during Summer League, but he has shown growth in his game so far in the preseason, Lewis adds in a separate story (subscription required). At 19, Clowney is one of the league’s five youngest players, but he’s already added 10 pounds of muscle as the team works to bulk him up so he can defend in the post. “The goal is just to keep getting better,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of tools that I can polish up and I can really utilize. That’s been the offseason and training camp (mission), and we’re trying to figure out how we’re going to play as a team, just trying to put it all together.”
- As his battle with Sixers management continues, James Harden didn’t play in the team’s Blue and White scrimmage and wasn’t introduced to the crowd, tweets Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
- Heading into his 17th NBA season Thaddeus Young has provided perspective to help the Raptors deal with their offseason coaching change, per Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca. Management wanted a clean start after last season’s disappointing 41-41 finish, so it replaced all the coaches and much of the team’s support staff. Young, who fell out of Nurse’s rotation last season, said he believes he can still contribute at age 35.
Brad Stevens and the Celtics really need to figure out a way to get Thaddeus Young. The ultimate locker room veteran even though Scottie Barnes found a way to get under his skin. Young is the type of locker room veteran that the Celtics love.
Young also solves a lot of depth issues up front. He is perfectly fine not playing. However, when guys go down, you can insert him into the lineup at he will do nothing but stuff the stat sheet.
His on and off court skills are being wasted in Toronto, a non-contender. The player he was ideally to have the most influence on …. Scottie Barnes …. Refuses to listen. Wouldn’t listen to Van Vleet either.
Vanvleet was part of the problem last year. When Siakam got hurt early he hijacked the offence and never gave it back.
Now did Scottie get to high on himself after winning rookie of the year? I think so. But I also think the early returns suggest last year humbled him and that he has grown him up a bit.
LMAO so you making VanVleet out to be the scapegoat? FVV called out the team for selfish play. Pretty sure he wasn’t the problem.
I haven’t heard about Scottie not willing to listen to Young. If it’s true, seems to me one of the obvious problems is him and not FVV.
That is the gift & curse for playing for a home countries team. Youre known every from Vancouver to Nova Scotia. So as a young player that gets in your head. I noticed how a guy like franz wagner being better than him last season. Sometimes it’s better to be on a small market team because you can just focus on your craft and won’t get hyped up unless you’re really doing something on the court.
That math ain’t mathing. 2007 wasnt 17 years ago.
I’m still wondering why we don’t know. How Ben hurt his back. This came up while was away from ball.
Said it day one. He is not a PG. Sadly he still thinks he is. We all know Ben has talent. We also all know his confidence has been shot. Bklyn is a place where he can find it again. NYC will toughen him up. And they will back him. If they see him giving 100%. At 27 yrs old. NBA players are just reaching their peak.