Is he playing? Okay, how about practice? 1 to 0? 1 to 1? 3 against 3? 5 against 5? Did he have an intense workout? How many?
These are all questions Nets fans ask about Ben Simmons every day. There are reports hinting at his return to the pitch in the postseason, but no timeline. Simmons himself appeared to hint in an Instagram post on Wednesday that he was approaching…
The most definitive rumor came two days ago when Shams Charania, who has a string of Simmons balls, told Pat McAfee he thought Game 3 of the first round – that would be April 23, a week before Saturday – was on could be a good day for the 6’11” All-Star plays…in Brooklyn.
“I think Games 1 and 2 are too fast, but after that I would wait for Ben Simmons to come back,” Shams said.
So imagine what it must be like for Celtics head coach Ime Udoka when it comes to planning. He admits it could be a problem.
“It will be difficult to imitate [Simmons] being with Brooklyn because we didn’t see him deployed with them,” said Udoka, who was an assistant with the 76ers in 2019-20 when Simmons was with Philadelphia. “Obviously I coached him two years ago and a lot of guys have played with or against him, so we know what he is. Obviously after a year away there will be some rust and some unpredictability in terms of execution with his team.
“But we know his game, we know what he’s doing and if nothing has happened in the last year we know how to attack him and manipulate certain things to that extent. But it’s tough because he hasn’t played with this team so who knows how [he’ll] be used with him.”
On Tuesday night, Steve Nash said – again – that there had been no schedule for Simmons’ first game since last June, but he too hinted things were changing.
“I have no idea [about Game 3]. I don’t know where these reports came from. We don’t have an update on the schedule, so I don’t think that came from us,” Nash said. “Yes, I would say more progress in the last week than in the first three weeks or so after that.
“He moves more, he shoots, he moves a little on the court in a one-on-zero environment. So definitely positive signs that it’s improving and moving and all that stuff. But like I said, he wasn’t running at full speed or playing against anyone, so there are a lot more markers to hit.
Marks, marks, marks. But there’s a feeling Simmons wants to go on the pitch…but the Nets, being the Nets, will be conservative.
Of course, the Celtics have their own injury problems. Robert Williams, Boston’s shot blocker center, underwent meniscus surgery March 30 with a 4- to 6-week recovery and rehab. He was noncommittal to Williams like Nash was to Simmons.
“He’s fine, and has been since the operation,” said Udoka. “I mentioned that he was immediately in high spirits. Think maybe he was more scared of it than anything and after that realized what it was, his first surgery. But it went as well as it could. He does two a day in Boston and everyone reacts differently so I can’t predict a date. But barring any setbacks, swelling or anything like that, we hope to have him back sooner rather than later.”
The first round is indeed drawn out. There are three days between game 1 and game 2, then two days between games 3 to 7. Game 7 would not take place until May 1st. That’s 17 days from Wednesday. Much time.