Returning to the game after very long months of struggle, and only 42 matches over the last two seasons, Ben Simmons (2m08, 27 years old) is in full possession of his physical means. Freed from his back problems, the Australian leader wants to regain his place in the League’s elite.
To do this, he will already have to prove that he can match the performances, in a Nets team which is counting on him to make the playoffs, if possible without going through the “play-in”.
In any case, Jacque Vaughn does not put particular pressure on the offensive production of Ben Simmons. That he expects especially in other areas, which will be just as valuable for this young group.
“I’ve probably only talked to one guy about scoring, and that’s Cam [Johnson] »reveals Jacque Vaughn in the New York Post. “I told him he should attempt ten 3-pointers. The other day I said to [Dorian Finney-Smith] to attempt eight, simply because he has been shooting 40% in the corners over the last three years. But I don’t talk too much about attacking with them individually. I prefer to talk about the actions that win matches, how they can make their teammates better. How we must give our all and grasp the details of our approach. »
“I don’t want us to play in isolation. On the contrary, we need movement! »
Formerly a three-time All-Star and twice a member of the best defensive five, Ben Simmons can single-handedly raise the level of the Nets, if he manages to reconnect with his golden start to his career.
Above all, alongside Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, two members of the American team competing in the World Cup, plus interesting role players in all positions, the Nets can surprise more than one if the stars are are finally lining up for Ben Simmons in the Big Apple borough.
During the preseason, he blew hot (with newfound defensive aggressiveness) and cold, like his match with 8 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 interceptions and 1 block… but also 8 lost balls.
If he released several inspired assists in fast play and concluded several convincing finishes in the circle and in contact, he still appeared, to say the least, cautious offensively with the sequence of matches (four shots, all missed against Miami to finish the preseason)…
“The ability of our players to create for others is going to be super important for us. I don’t want us to be a team that plays in isolation. On the contrary, we need movement! We need movements without the ball, movements with the ball. We need rhythm, and Ben offers that to the team,” concludes Jacque Vaughn. “I’m looking forward to being able to take advantage of our strengths and create cohesion, so that we find open shots and play together. »
| 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 |
| Total | 317 | 33 | 56.0 | 13.9 | 59.1 | 1.8 | 6.1 | 7.8 | 7.5 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 14.7 | |
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.
