Embattled Nets star Ben Simmons has been restricted to particular person on-court work in apply as he battles a mix of left knee and again soreness that has sidelined him because the NBA All-Star break.
Simmons missed his fifteenth straight recreation because of what the crew has deemed left knee/again soreness, watching from the sidelines throughout Brooklyn’s matchup in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.
Vaughn stated for the primary time since Simmons each obtained a platelet-rich plasma injection and had fluid drained from his knee in the course of the All-Star break that Simmons has solely practiced in a person setting.
“It is not with teammates, and so I’ll say that piece of it,” the pinnacle coach stated forward of tip-off in opposition to the Cavaliers on Thursday. “He hasn’t scripted with our group — first group, second group or anything of that nature.”
Considering apply time between the Feb. 9 NBA Trade Deadline — when Vaughn finalized a beginning lineup of Spencer Dinwiddie, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith and Nic Claxton — and the Feb. 17 begin of the All-Star break was minimal, Simmons’ time spent on the courtroom with the new-look Nets has been scarce.
Which makes it tough to examine a world the place he makes a real influence on the Nets’ season given there are actually solely 9 attainable video games the purpose ahead can now play in with no timetable but given for his harm return.
“That’s why the great thing is I don’t even think that far ahead my man. I don’t even complicate my life that way,” Vaughn stated. “I’m involved about at present’s recreation and if these questions current themselves, I’ll be greater than prepared to see how he suits with the group and reply it at the moment, however I don’t even wanna look that far forward.
“Ben’s in the same position he was the last time I talked to you [on Tuesday]. Nothing further to comment on. I don’t think I can give you anything else. There’s nothing to add, really.”
Simmons is the highest-paid participant on the Nets’ payroll — and he’s additionally essentially the most adorned by way of particular person accolades.
He was named 2018 Rookie of the Year, led the NBA in steals in 2020, was named twice to the NBA All-Defensive First Team and is a three-time All-Star. He signed a rookie max scale extension with the Philadelphia 76ers earlier than arriving in Brooklyn as a part of the James Harden commerce and is due a complete of $78M over the following two seasons.
Back points have left him off the courtroom as a rule since he landed in Brooklyn. Simmons suffered a herniated disk final season, obtained an epidural in an try and work by way of the harm, opted for offseason surgical procedure and missed the whole 2021-22 season in Brooklyn, and has since had spotty availability this season, showing in simply 42 of 73 attainable video games this season.
Simmons is averaging 6.9 factors, 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists per recreation. He averaged 15.9 factors, 8.1 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.6 steals by way of 4 years in Philadelphia earlier than citing psychological well being points as the explanation for holding out the whole first half of the 2021-22 season with the Sixers earlier than arriving in Brooklyn.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com