The Nets want Ben Simmons to be a bigger factor on offense but it’s not happening. Simmons, who is in the final year of his contract, is averaging 5.4 points and 6.6 assists in 24.6 minutes per game. On Friday, Simmons contributed only two points and four assists in 26 minutes against Philadelphia.
“That’s the normal minutes he’s played. Again, we need him to rebound, we need him to push the pace and to find his teammates. We need him to be aggressive,” first-year head coach Jordi Fernandez told Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “Again, it was probably not a great game by him and by us as a team.”
We have more on the New York teams:
- After losing six of their last eight games, the Nets began a difficult three-game journey to the West Coast, starting with Sunday night’s contest at Sacramento. “It’s the NBA. We know who we’re playing against,” Cameron Johnson said, per Lewis. “We know what Sacramento brings. We know what Golden State brings. We know what Phoenix brings — and it’s really good, high-level players. So, yeah, we do. It is a bit of a wake-up call. But we understand what we’re getting ourselves into.” Dennis Schröder missed the game with right ankle soreness, Marc Spears of ESPN tweets.
- It may come as a shock to some people but Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has never been ejected by the officials as a head coach, a span of over 900 games. How is that possible? The Athletic’s James Edwards discusses that subject with a trio of prominent retired referees — Steve Javie, Danny Crawford and Bill Spooner. “He wasn’t complaining on every play and didn’t cross the line, so when he did start complaining a little bit, you’d show him respect because he treated us with some respect,” Javie said.
- Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns is questionable to play against Denver on Monday due to a left calf contusion, Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype tweets. Towns is averaging 26.1 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists in his first season with New York. He shot just 6-for-19 from the field, scoring 16 points in 39 minutes, against Utah on Saturday.
I hope Thibs gets ejected immediately in his next game.
As someone who has watched Simmons for the past three years with the Nets, I can very firmly say that it looks like he’s not making an effort on offense. He does not want to put the ball in the hoop. Even for a top-tier defender (which he isn’t anymore) and great passer, his salary is about a minimum of 2-3 times too high. I seriously wonder if a team is going to offer him more than single digit millions this offseason.
Single digits too big of a ‘net’. He ain’t getting more the 5 mil.
Play Hukporti against the Joker. Rest Towns.
Still wissed at Jazz loss.
I truly cannot phantom why Mike Brown insists on startinf Huerter over Keon. It’s reached a level of stupidity that only the Kings can reach. This team is done
Fathom lmao. Phantom is what I will become after watching all of this bs