Ben Simmons' lower back injury "has all but dissipated," according to ESPN's Jackie MacMullan.
MacMullan reports a team source says if and when the season resumes, the Sixers expect Simmons to be ready to go.
In late February, Simmons suffered nerve impingement in his lower back and his timetable to return was, and still is for that part, unknown. While the playoffs would be begun this week under normal circumstances, the COVID-19 pandemic has put the season on pause for now, at least, and potentially ending it all together.
Simmons, 23, missed the last eight games the team played after aggravating the injury against the Bucks on February 22nd.
In three seasons, Simmons has been named to two all-star teams and has won the rookie of the year. This season he was on pace to achieve all-NBA defensive honors, highlighted by his 2.1 steals per game, a league high. Offensively, Simmons' 2019-20 was normal -- 16.7 points, 8.2 assists, 7.8 rebounds on 58.5 FG%. Normal for him, that is. While his free-throw percentage of 62.7 is still hindering his game, that mark has increased in each of his NBA seasons, albeit marginally.
If and when the season resumes, the Sixers would be the 6th seed in the East and face the Celtics in a first-round playoff series.
