As followers slowly filed out of the Barclays Center after the Nets’ second consecutive preseason blowout loss to an Eastern Conference playoff opponent — this time a 109-80 defeat to the Miami Heat after Monday’s 19-point thumping from the shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers — the in-arena DJ performed an all-too acquainted tune.
“Don’t worry. Be happy.”
It’s straightforward to fret after Thursday’s poor efficiency, a sport two-time NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant stated he “didn’t like anything” about besides the workforce leaving with no injured gamers. Poor protection and offensive miscues apart, Ben Simmons’ unwillingness to assault the basket underscored the Nets’ lack of ability to deal with the basketball or generate high quality offense in opposition to one of many NBA’s premier defenses.
Especially in a sport each Kyrie Irving (paternity go away) and Joe Harris (sore ankle) watched from the sidelines.
Simmons, nevertheless, stated there are some issues he isn’t but comfy doing — like “getting to the rim, getting hit and hitting” different gamers — as a result of he’s only some months faraway from offseason again surgical procedure. He is assured, and so are his teammates and his head coach, a few return to a extra aggressive model of himself as he shakes off the rust related to 480 days away from NBA basketball and works to get into a greater place after getting a microdiscectomy to alleviate the ache stemming from the herniated disk he suffered after the commerce to Brooklyn.
“It’s been a year,” Simmons stated after posting 4 factors, 4 assists and 10 rebounds to go along with six turnovers on the night time. “I’m coming back. Give me some time.”
Still, there have been some performs that raised eyebrows greater than others.
Simmons, for instance, had a 10-inch top benefit on Heat guard Kyle Lowry and had the mismatch with a one-on-one on the excessive submit. Instead of seeking to energy to the rim in opposition to the smaller opponent, he threw the ball again out to Durant on the perimeter.
When Durant instantly gave the ball again to Simmons — an indication for Simmons to reap the benefits of the mismatch and get to the rim — Simmons took one dribble in direction of the paint and shoveled a move to Royce O’Neale on the other wing.
O’Neale, a succesful marksman, missed the flippantly contested three.
Then there have been the back-to-back turnovers with simply over two minutes to go within the first quarter.
Reserve lead guard Edmond Sumner threw an entry move to Simmons, who posted up Heat All-Star Jimmy Butler on the baseline. Sumner then reduce alongside the baseline behind Simmons to the rim, and Simmons floated a move over his head beneath the basket.
The move was tipped away and intercepted, resulting in a Miami quick break.
On the very subsequent possession, Simmons superior the ball up the ground in opposition to second-year two-way signing Marcus Garrett. Markieff Morris screened Garrett on the three-point line and Simmons pushed inside two ft of the foul line.
And then he flung a move to O’Neale within the left wing. This time, Garrett was in place and made a play to get possession of the ball.
Some of Simmons’ passes had been predictable as a result of Simmons didn’t — and doesn’t — look to attain typically. Durant stated the workforce “definitely” desires Simmons “to be more aggressive and look to score, especially if he’s got a small wing in the post,” and when he “has an advantage going downhill in transition.”
But he additionally is aware of how lengthy of a layoff it’s been for Simmons and that Thursday solely marked his second sport again.
“I think he’s just finding his rhythm again. He hasn’t played in a long time, and to throw you back up in there with the game going fast?” Durant stated. “You can play pickup all you need, however as soon as you set somebody within the sport, all that stuff goes out the window.
“So, he’s getting his legs, (a) quick move here and he’s figuring it out. It’s only going to get better from here.”
Simmons admitted there must be extra of a steadiness for when he appears to set his teammates up for photographs versus when he appears to attain on his personal.
“Looking at the box score, I took three shots, which is definitely not enough,” he stated. “Obviously offensively, I want to get to the post more, get some more touches down low, be more aggressive, get to the rim, get to the free throw line, which I didn’t do tonight.”
Nets head coach Steve Nash stated he expects Simmons to develop in his aggression placing stress on the rim. He additionally, rightfully, famous Irving and Harris’ absences put extra stress on Simmons to create by taking two flooring spacers off the courtroom.
“He’s gonna get more attempts. Right now obviously it’s a little clunky for us,” Nash stated. “Ben shall be tremendous. He’ll enhance, he’s gonna get higher each night time, and he’s gonna be an engine for us and an enormous a part of what we do. So I’m not likely nervous about him, however it’s a course of.
“He hasn’t played for a long time and he’s also assimilating to a new group. That takes time, it’s not gonna be perfect, and it probably won’t be any time soon. But if we can keep improving every day that’s all we ask for.”
Two preseason video games isn’t full trigger to be nervous, however the Nets — aside from glimpses of unrealized potential — haven’t given followers a lot to be glad about, both.
Durant completed with 22 factors on 8-of-12 capturing from the ground however confirmed some frustration when he unintentionally threw the ball away making an attempt to get the ball to O’Neale, kicking off a Heat quick break and placing them on the road.
Nash warned issues would look ugly early because the Nets alter to each new rotations and new schemes, and ugly described their loss to the Heat on Thursday. It’s solely preseason, however the identical might be stated for the 2 different Eastern Conference contenders who’ve blown the cap off the Barclays Center.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com