Brooklyn Nets star Ben Simmons still hasn't played since he was acquired in the James Harden trade with the Philadelphia 76ers in February. The Aussie is reportedly dealing with back pain, but he's about to take a massive step in the right direction as he aims a return to the court in the playoffs.
ESPN Sources: After running and shooting pain-free for over a week, the Brooklyn Nets’ Ben Simmons is expected to take the next step on the court in the coming week: Beginning to go against teammates on the practice floor.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 16, 2022
This is crucial for Simmons because he really hasn't done any contact work yet. Reports recently surfaced that the Nets playmaker could return between Games 4 and 6 of the Boston Celtics series, but until he actually gets on the floor playing 5-on-5, he isn't featuring in a live game.
Brooklyn would certainly love to get Simmons back because he will instantly make them better in a variety of ways, especially defensively. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are doing a nice job of carrying the load but they really struggle to contain their opponents. Simmons' ability to facilitate, be an impact on the boards, and open up shooters is seen as a huge positive.
That being said, it's also hard to know what Simmons will be like. After all, he hasn't played in over eight months. Only time will tell.
The Nets begin their hopeful title run on Sunday in Boston.
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