The Brooklyn Nets now know their 2022 first-round playoff matchup after defeating the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA play-in tournament. The team will take on the Boston Celtics in round one of the NBA Playoffs in what should be one of the most exciting first-round matchups around the league.
There is obviously a ton of star power on both teams, but the Nets may be getting a true x-factor back in three-time All-Star Ben Simmons.
Simmons has not played yet this NBA season, first due to some clear issues with the management of the Philadelphia 76ers, and then dealing with a back injury after being traded, which has hampered him from getting back into basketball shape.
The team ruled him out for the play-in tournament but left the door open for a return in the playoffs should they make it. Now that they have, it appears that Simmons is targeting to return within Games 4-6 of the series against the Celtics, according to NBA insider Shams Charania.
Sources: Nets three-time All-Star Ben Simmons is targeting a return within Games 4-6 (April 25-29) of first round series vs. Celtics.
Discussing Simmons and more on @Stadium NBA Playoff Preview Show: https://t.co/bEFYKs2ObS
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 14, 2022
This news has the NBA world speculating how Simmons could fit in with the Nets this far into the season. Some think that it may be a struggle for him to fit in without any prior games and be able to play to his potential.
Cool if it happens, but I'm not sure "your first game in 10 months is with an entire new group of teammates you've never played with and you're guarding Jayson Tatum" is an optimal setup for success. https://t.co/7ONW9VEUXW
— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) April 14, 2022
I'd be absolutely stunned if Ben Simmons can just show up and guard Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum, which is all the Nets would really need him for at this point. I just don't buy it. Doesn't make any sense. https://t.co/UBqxp14PQh
— Cooper Watson (@coopertwatson) April 14, 2022
Anybody else think this will help the Celtics? Ben hasn’t played in a year, it’s not gonna be very beneficial to throw him out there in a close playoff series with his confidence level and a back that had surgery recently https://t.co/qUp2IpnSHw
— 🦌⌚️💍 (@GiannisIn6) April 14, 2022
Coming back in the middle of a tough playoff series after almost a full year off after having the yips in the playoffs? https://t.co/11dGrCTOw0
— Lior (@LiorKozai) April 14, 2022
Others are more optimistic and are just excited to potentially see Simmons back on the court.
Has there ever been a first-round series with more storylines? This is getting absurd (in the best way possible). Can't wait. https://t.co/H8GWMMfqPC
— Trevor Hass (@TrevorHass) April 14, 2022
https://twitter.com/mightbe__simba/status/1514671331408814082
It’s important to note that nothing is ever final when it comes to Simmons. We have heard numerous times this season that he was planning on returning at a specific date, and the date just kept getting pushed back.
Despite these reports from multiple sources around the league, both head coach Steve Nash and star forward Kevin Durant said on Thursday that they don’t expect Simmons to be back, or at least aren’t banking on it.
Kevin Durant isn't expecting Ben Simmons to play in the near future:
"I'm not putting any pressure on Ben to come out and hoop. I'm not expecting him to do anything except get his body right." pic.twitter.com/ciRZ3z60yW
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) April 14, 2022
Steve Nash agrees with Kevin Durant, saying that the Nets can't necessarily expect Ben Simmons to play in the near future:
"There's a chance Ben comes back, there's a chance Ben doesn't come back. We don't have time to lose focus on the group that's playing." pic.twitter.com/KlJcqhqShU
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) April 14, 2022
It will be a wait-and-see approach for the Nets on whether or not Simmons will return, but at his best, he can be a huge factor for Brooklyn in what could be a very deep playoff run this postseason.
