Because Kevin Durant wanted to leave during the summer, the NBA didn’t take the risk of scheduling the Nets for Christmas games. Too bad because a lot of fans probably wanted to see the best team of the moment at work tonight. Recently winners of the Warriors and the Bucks, the Nets remain on eight straight wins, and among the big points of satisfaction, there are the performances of Ben Simons.
After weeks and even months of trouble, the former Sixers point guard is gradually finding his best level, as evidenced by his 12 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists against the Bucks on Friday night. But more than his points, his assists and his rebounds, what we remember at the Nets is his defense. On Friday, he was essential to limit Giannis Antetokounmpo to 26 points and cause 7 stray bullets!
” He is incredible ! » ignites Kevin Durant. “His aggressiveness was good all night. For me, two of his four fouls weren’t, but that’s how it is… When you’re physical, some fouls are contentious. Giannis is the most physical player in the NBA, and there will be contentious fouls… I thought he responded to them throughout the game. He made life difficult for him, and I thought he did a great job of getting in the way of him, of forcing him to get the ball out and forcing him to lose it. Giannis lost 7 balls, and Ben was the trigger. »
A few days ago, Jacque Vaughn explained that he was constantly trying to find the best systems and the best combinations for Ben Simmons to be effective. Clearly, the Aussie is vital to the running of the team, and since November the Nets have won 13 out of 17 games when Simmons is in the game.
“He is so unique that you have to know who is on the field with him, what the spacing will look like, what it will look like when he has the ball in his hands, where he will position himself when he does not have the ball. So we always try to put him in a position to succeed, and we continue to manage given where he is. »
For now, the Nets remain cautious with Simmons due to his back issues. No question of “grilling” him by playing him regularly for more than 30 minutes. No question either of making him play back-to-back. Caution that pays off.
| Ben Simmons | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2017-18 | PHL | 81 | 34 | 54.5 | 0.0 | 56.0 | 1.8 | 6.4 | 8.1 | 8.2 | 2.6 | 1.7 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 15.8 |
| 2018-19 | PHL | 79 | 34 | 56.3 | 0.0 | 60.0 | 2.2 | 6.7 | 8.8 | 7.7 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 16.9 |
| 2019-20 | PHL | 57 | 35 | 58.0 | 28.6 | 62.1 | 2.0 | 5.8 | 7.8 | 8.0 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 3.5 | 0.6 | 16.4 |
| 2020-21 | PHL | 58 | 32 | 55.7 | 30.0 | 61.3 | 1.6 | 5.6 | 7.2 | 6.9 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 14.3 |
| 2022-23 | BRK | 23 | 27 | 62.0 | 0.0 | 48.6 | 1.0 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 6.1 | 3.7 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 8.4 |
| Total | 298 | 33 | 56.2 | 14.3 | 59.5 | 1.8 | 6.1 | 8.0 | 7.6 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 15.4 | |
