The Brooklyn Nets are currently taking on the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, and things have certainly not gone to plan for them to this point.
The team came into the season as one of the favorites to make it to the NBA Finals, but they are currently down 3-0 in the series and will be facing elimination in their Game 4 matchup on Monday.
The Nets will now have to do what no team has ever done, and that is come back from a 3-0 deficit in the NBA playoffs.
One player that could make a huge impact for the Nets is three-time All-Star Ben Simmons, who has yet to play in an NBA game this season.
Simmons has had numerous setbacks in his rehab from a back injury, but it was reported earlier this week that his likely return date would be for Game 4.
Unfoortunately for Nets fans, the trend of Simmons pushing back his return date has continued. NBA insider Shams Charania reported Sunday that the Nets have listed Simmons as out for Monday’s matchup against the Celtics.
Nets are listing Ben Simmons as OUT for Game 4 vs. Celtics. A surprise as Simmons had been expected to play Monday as long as rehab was on course.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 24, 2022
This news has the NBA world questioning whether or not Simmons will even play again at any point this season. That’s also led to questions about what exactly is going on with his rehab process that has caused him to keep delaying his return date.
I don’t think anybody thought this dude was gonna play this year. This ain’t a surprise. https://t.co/3T4F7pnqRy
— Randy Wilkins (@pamsson) April 24, 2022
Narrator: It was not a surprise. https://t.co/T7I4CiKMUs
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) April 24, 2022
This doesn’t really feel like a surprise to me https://t.co/Tz3mD7Wp4R
— Jeff Skin Wade (@SkinWade) April 24, 2022
Translation: We’re about to lose so why bother? https://t.co/eEnwpGU56J
— Carrington Harrison (@cdotharrison) April 24, 2022
https://twitter.com/joelmmathis/status/1518331607723171845
Even though the Nets certainly have star power to compete, including with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, many see this news as the final nail in the coffin to what has been a disappointing season for them given the expectations.
😂🤷🏾♂️ 3-0 Celtics, it’s OVER! #ThxBenSimmons🤦🏿♂️ https://t.co/ZXxDg7DPQ2
— Ike Reese (@Ike58Reese) April 24, 2022
Let’s go Mets https://t.co/Zh5UFIsyF1
— Evan Roberts (@EvanRobertsWFAN) April 24, 2022
just an unserious team from the beginning of this season all the way through the end https://t.co/qCHqX2Gc1j
— Rohan Nadkarni (@RohanNadkarni) April 24, 2022
While only Simmons truly knows how his body is feeling dealing with the back injury, it is certainly getting harder and harder to defend his actions here.
It will be interesting to see what happens with Simmons on the Nets moving foonsrward next season. He’s still under contract for three more seasons, but his tenure with the team is certainly off to a horrendous start.
While at his best, Simmons can be very useful for a team given his passing ability and defensive skills. But it looks more and more like the Philadelphia 76ers got the better side of the trade that occurred at the trade deadline.
