Good news from Simmons! According to the famous Ramona Shelburne, Simmons, who had previously suffered from a herniated lumbar disc, is now in pain. According to The Famous Woj, Simmons has begun practicing with his teammates. Gradually from 1 to 1 to 3 to 3, 4 to 4. The Nets want Bency to make a comeback in G5 or G6, averaging about 15 minutes per game. Inside the Nets, there is growing optimism about Simmons' return at G3.
With the Nets seventh in the East, the first round of the playoffs will be played with two away games and then two home games. G3 is the Nets' first home game in the playoffs, and the Nets certainly hope Simmons can return at G3. If they can't catch up, the Nets will want Simmons to make a comeback at G5 or G6. Because the further you get to the back, the more important the game becomes. Before Simmons returns, the Nets also have to try to win, so that the pressure on Simmons' comeback will be much less.
Before Simmons returned, if the Nets wanted to win, veteran Dragic was important. Shortly after Harden's departure this season, the Nets also chose to sign Dragic, a veteran who was bought out by the Spurs, in order to strengthen their own backcourt. The Slovenian point guard, known as "Little Nash", also joined forces with big brother Nash again after many years, but only a change of identity, the two are no longer teammates, but a mentor-apprentice relationship.
Although his performance after joining the Raptors this season has not been satisfactory, for the 35-year-old Dragic, his veteran experience is a very important point for the Nets. Perhaps it is a long time to play the game, Dragic's performance during the regular season can only be said to be average, the 16 games played for the Nets in the regular season, Dragic averaged only 7.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, shooting 37.6% from the field.
Just when everyone was questioning Dragic's heroic twilight, he was supported in the first game of the Nets and Celtics playoffs. Everyone is sighing that "Ou Shenxian" faced the old club's 39 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists, but in fact, Dragic also had an efficient performance in that game, in that game, he scored a bench-high 14 points in 6 of 11 shots in 26 minutes of playing time, plus 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal, and the plus-minus value came to the team's high of +17. Because Irving and Dragic performed so well that the Nets were able to fight the Celtics until the very end in Durant's slump.
I believe that in the second war between the two sides, the Green Shirts will definitely make targeted deployments for Irving. Durant's performance is not to worry, but if the Nets want to win, Dragic, the "third possession point", also needs to continue to stand up to solve the problems of the two core platoons. Although the Heat were swept out by the Bucks last season, Dragic played a very amazing performance in that round of the series, averaging 14 points and 5 rebounds per game, shooting 54.5% from the field, in fact, in the playoffs in recent years, Dragic's performance in the playoffs is more eye-catching than in the regular season, and he is a veritable "playoff player". In the first playoff game of the Nets career, Dragic also brushed his presence on both ends of the offensive and defensive ends.
As a veteran point guard who has been in the league for 14 years, Dragic has always wanted to get a championship ring. Joining the Nets this time, Dragic certainly hopes to realize his dream. Facing a strong opponent like the Greenshirts in the first round, Dragic really needs to step up and not continue to paddle like in the regular season, if he can continue to perform like the first game in the next game, buying time for Simmons to return. Then wait until Simmons returns, the Nets' new big three are combined, and the Nets will really have the strength to impact the championship.
How important is Simmons? Defensively, Simmons can defend from No. 1 to No. 5. On the offensive end, Simmons can organize passes and deliver cannonballs to shooters such as Irving, Durant, Seth Curry, Mills and others. U.S. media reported that the Nets plan to let Simmons play as a center. About Simmons playing center, he had good memories. Last season's regular season 76ers against the Jazz, center Simmons had 42 points, nine rebounds and 12 assists in front of Gobert, the best defensive player. In addition, last season's playoffs 76ers played wizards, and Simmons, who played as a center, also had 19 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. It can be said that the nets' ceiling is not Durant, nor Irving, but Simmons.
The mountains and rivers are doubtful, the willows are dark and the flowers are bright and another village, and the Nets are now in the pre-dawn darkness. Before Simmons makes his comeback, the Nets need to be "alive." Nets, come on!