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The biggest game of the year, at least in terms of storylines and national coverage, is here: the Brooklyn Nets head to tackle the Philadelphia 76ers. The two Eastern Conference powerhouses that made the biggest trade of the season (swapping Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, and Andre Drummond and picks for James Harden and Paul Millsap) now do battle. This head-to-head is shaping up to become a true rivalry. Steve Nash breaks down why Simmons is traveling with Brooklyn for this matchup.
Simmons visits the team that drafted him first overall back in 2016, in what figures to be a very hostile environment. Sixers fans cannot wait to boo Ben Simmons, who revealed he was dealing with mental health issues last October. That's what kept him out of the lineup in Philly all season long, and according to Simmons, not related to the trade he sought. But tonight, Simmons is out nursing back tightness. But he'll be on the bench supporting his guys and experiencing a wild atmosphere at Wells Fargo Center. Sixer fans see a player who refused to shoot and didn't want to play for them despite having four years remaining on his contract. They're going to let him know they much prefer having James Harden.
Simmons has not appeared in a game since June of 2021. The Nets are a conservative team and have a fairly rigorous return-to-play-reconditioning program for injured or absent players. As Ben was gearing up to play real NBA action again he suffered a back flare-up.
Fans of Ben Simmons's former team wondered if he was simply ducking them. But he'll be in attendance to face the music in this primetime matchup. He was not in attendance on prior stints of this road trip in Boston and Charlotte. But this game was within driving distance and that's not as tough on a tight back as airplane rides, per his head coach.
Prior to the showdown between Sixers star Joel Embiid, James Harden, and Nets' stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn coach Steve Nash explained the benefit of having Simmons in attendance in this game.
“Well he's been at home kind of ramping up his rehabilitation and getting over his little back incident,” Nash said. “We didn't think it was great for him to fly around the country to Boston and Charlotte, so he could drive here [to Philadelphia]…. so largely we want him here… but this ones a drive, it's an hour away. So he's gonna be here and it's probably a good thing for him too to come back and experience it and get some of it out of the way,” Nash said.
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Steve Nash explained why Ben Simmons wasn't on the Nets road trip but is in PHI with his "little back incident."
Said this one was a drive not a flight, planes don't help. Adds it's a "good thing for him to come back and experience it and get some of it out of the way."#nets pic.twitter.com/WUtx69RGm5— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) March 10, 2022
The Nets have made pretty clear they think exposing Simmons to the types of chants and boos he'll hear will be a positive thing, which could be especially true against the Sixers. Steve Nash even made the point that it's a luxury.
Steve Nash on Ben Simmons sitting on the bench tonight: “How many people go into an arena and get booed by the entire place? I had it done to me and I thought it was a privilege."
— Alex Schiffer (@Alex__Schiffer) March 10, 2022
Nash even went so far as to say he's personally “jealous” of Simmons, per Alex Schiffer of The Athletic. Who wouldn't want to be the center of ire as a star basketball player? Not many dudes elicit that type of response. Remember Kevin Durant's return to Oklahoma when he left?
Earlier in the day, YES Network's play-by-play broadcaster Ian Eagle speculated that Simmons could be back on the court sometime next week. That may sound like an optimistic timeline since he's not even practicing yet. But who made the rule there's no optimism allowed in #Netsworld?
For now, we're happy to hear Simmons may be eyeing a return. Because if somehow these two teams met in the playoffs, it would be clear they're one of the league's best rivalries.
