In the preseason, scores may not hold much value, but the visual spectacle does.
And the sight of Ben Simmons not only playing, but playing exceptionally well, is a fortuitous one.
The Brooklyn Nets suffered a close 129-126 defeat to the Lakers at T-Mobile Arena on Monday night.
However, what mattered more than keeping an eye on the scoreboard was whether Simmons, who has a history of injuries, passed the eye test during his first live action since February.
And he exceeded all expectations.
Returning from a nerve impingement that disrupted his last season, Simmons showcased his skills with 10 points, three assists, and a steal in an encouraging 14:07 minutes of play in the first half.
“[It felt] amazing. That’s really it, just amazing. Happy to be out there, and compete, and feel good out there and able to contribute like I know how I can. So I felt great,” Simmons said. “It’s the best in two years for sure. Definitely.”
Simmons, who hadn’t played since February 15 due to back issues, displayed remarkable activity, athleticism, and aggressiveness before sitting out the second half, along with all the other starters except for Cam Thomas.
“He attacked the rim, I think he played with pace, looked pretty natural out there getting up and down the floor, communicating with guys into the flow of the game. Really good to see,” coach Jacque Vaughn said. “So, some really good minutes.’
Simmons took LeBron James off the dribble for a driving layup on his second touch of the night, soared higher for a dunk than he ever had since joining the Nets, and displayed enough confidence to attempt daring moves (even though they didn’t always succeed, like his behind-the-back pass that went out of bounds).
“Very encouraging,” Vaughn said. “Considering some of the things he’s done in the past, and some of those things, like the behind-the-back pass, are part of his game. I understand that. And the pace at which he plays, unscripted and with a flair in the flow of his game, those are the things we want him to return to doing instinctively. I think you saw some of that tonight, and it’s definitely a step in the right direction for him.”
According to sources, if Simmons had been healthy last season, Kevin Durant likely would’ve remained in Brooklyn even without Kyrie Irving.
Now, the Nets can only hope that Simmons can return to his former self and become a key player alongside Mikal Bridges, who arrived in the Durant trade.
After missing the entirety of the 2021-22 season due to mental health issues and a severe back injury, Simmons underwent microdiscectomy surgery for a herniated L-4 disk on May 5, 2022.
He rushed his return, resulting in career-low averages of just 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game in 42 ineffective appearances before being shut down.
Now, back after a strong training camp, Simmons has taken over the point guard position from Spencer Dinwiddie.
Playing Simmons alongside fellow non-shooter Nic Claxton created some spacing issues, especially with Cam Johnson nursing a hamstring injury. It’s a work in progress.
Thomas had an outstanding performance with 26 points in a rare start, but Bridges struggled without the proper spacing.
The slashing forward managed only eight points in 15:19 minutes, shooting 2-for-7 and finishing with a team-worst plus-minus of minus-11.
Furthermore, the Nets had difficulties adjusting to playing drop coverage.
After a turnover by Bridges, Rui Hachimura dunked the ball, giving the Lakers a 66-47 lead with 3:10 remaining in the second half.
Thomas brought the Nets level at 88-all, and they pulled ahead 126-125 with a finger roll by former Lakers player Lonnie Walker IV.
However, rookie Jalen Wilson got blocked, leading to Maxwell Lewis’ go-ahead dunk. After Trendon Watford was called for an offensive foul, Colin Castleton secured the victory with a layup with 49.9 seconds left to play.
Nevertheless, Simmons’ performance was a positive takeaway.
“I was excited. So excited. Just blessed to be able to come out here and play at a high level,” Simmons said. “It’s exciting. I get to play in the NBA. It’s a great job.”
“I’ve known what it feels like for a while now, and I’ve worked really hard to put myself in this position. So I know I’m ready. I know I’m more than ready to be here and compete and help this team win.”
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