Even if it only averages 7.4 points, Ben Simmons is the driving force behind Brooklyn’s offense this season. How and why ? Because he is the player who sets the pace and starts the runs of this formation so comfortable when it comes to playing in transition.
Before the match against Boston, the Nets were the best team in the league on the counterattack (second now behind Philadelphia) and the 7.2 assists but especially the 10 rebounds on average from the former Sixers leader are essential for that. The best rebounder and passer on his team, the playmaker can thus manage the tempo of matches.
“There’s definitely a different style when he’s not there,” commented Spencer Dinwiddie for the New York Postafter the defeat against the Celtics. “We always want to play with the one we can consider our best player. We’ll go as far as he and Mikal Bridges can take us. Not forgetting Cam Thomas now, who has been playing well since the start of the season. »
With only seven points scored on the counterattack, the Nets actually saw the difference without Ben Simmons. “He is important for us so it’s obvious that without him it won’t help and our points on the counter-attack will drop”confirms Mikal Bridges.
“Ben Simmons is essential in our style of play, in the rhythm that we want to impose”
Evolving without its launch pad was already crippling for Brooklyn. Facing him against Boston and Jayson Tatum means adding an additional, almost insurmountable, difficulty.
“It’s a combination”analyzes Jacque Vaughn facing the defeat of his troops. “Ben Simmons is essential in our style of play, in the rhythm that we want to impose. Then, we play a big team like the Celtics who shoot a lot. So we can’t get our rhythm going. Afterwards, it’s interesting to see that we shot 52 times at 3-point without Ben. If we can take that many shots when Ben is there, then that will be the holy grail for us. »
As his absence was a precautionary measure facing a second game in two days, Ben Simmons should be back this Monday evening to face the Bucks. And that’s good for the Nets because Milwaukee’s withdrawal has not been the most effective in the league since the start of the season. Far from there.
| Ben Simmons | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 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 | 42 | 26 | 56.6 | 0.0 | 43.9 | 1.0 | 5.3 | 6.3 | 6.1 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 6.9 |
| 2023-24 | BRK | 5 | 32 | 54.5 | 0.0 | 25.0 | 2.6 | 7.4 | 10.0 | 7.2 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 7.4 |
| Total | 322 | 33 | 56.0 | 13.9 | 59.0 | 1.8 | 6.1 | 7.9 | 7.5 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 14.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
