Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn used a baseball reference to explain the course he needs embattled ahead Ben Simmons to development towards this season.
Simmons, who left Thursday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons after getting hit within the face and didn’t return resulting from left knee soreness, missed Sunday’s cross-bridge rivalry showdown in opposition to the Knicks with knee soreness.
Vaughn declined to deal with Simmons’ absence particularly however used a normal analogy to precise his view.
“As a [baseball] manager, I [would] want to be able to pen in Cal Ripkin at third base or at shortstop. I do. That’s the way I look at it,” he mentioned forward of tip-off in opposition to the Knicks on Saturday. “And so I believe everyone’s approach should be based on that, where you want to be penned in on a nightly basis.”
Sunday marked the eleventh recreation Simmons has missed with the Nets this season. It is the second time left knee soreness has saved him off the court docket, and the second time Simmons — who underwent a microdiscectomy process final summer season — has pulled himself out with a left knee harm or problem within the second recreation of a back-to-back.
Vaughn additionally declined to deal with Simmons’ mentality particularly in terms of being obtainable for as many video games as doable.
“There’s 17 dudes on one team, and to pinpoint one guy, I don’t think that’s fair,” he mentioned. “What I do do is I deal with the crew and I ask them to make the most of at this time, make the most of your restoration day, like I talked about.
“Nothing’s changed in my message, nothings changed in my communication with this team. One through 17, whether it’s watching film with the 13th guy the other day, or watching film with the ninth guy this afternoon. It hasn’t changed, so I don’t want this approach to change from 1-17. Prepare yourself to be depended on a nightly basis and get penned into the lineup.”
Vaughn mentioned Simmons’ absence in opposition to the Knicks on Sunday had nothing to do with getting swiped within the face. Simmons left the Detroit recreation after rookie Jaden Ivey swiped near his eye on a drive to the rim.
“Purely the knee [keeping him out],” Vaughn mentioned. “I think that was the drive that he got hit in the face on but it’s purely the knee.”
After lacking the complete 2021-22 NBA season resulting from a mix of psychological well being points and a herniated disk in his decrease again, Simmons has struggled to search out his footing. He went scoreless with seven assists in 20 minutes earlier than pulling himself out of the Detroit recreation.
It marked his second scoreless recreation within the month of January and got here one recreation after he went scoreless within the first half of the loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Simmons is averaging 5.7 factors, 7.7 assists, 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals per recreation within the New Year. He has taken greater than seven photographs in a recreation only one this month and solely seven instances this season.
“You become what you think about,” Vaughn mentioned after the loss to the Sixers. “So if you’re thinking about being aggressive, you will be aggressive. And if you think about being a good teammate, you’ll be a good teammate. If you think about competing and playing hard, you do those things. You become what you think about.”
The Nets are additionally with out reserve wing T.J. Warren, who sustained a left shin contusion in opposition to the Pistons.
“Good thing I’m not a doctor,” Vaughn mentioned. “We thought it was the knee. It was a little bit under the knee: it was the shin. He’s also day-to-day.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com