Ben Simmons is out for Monday’s Game 4, a surprise that’s maybe not a surprise to some as it seemed he was ramping up for a return before waking up Sunday with a sore back.
It’s probably the right move, as the Nets will be hard-pressed with or without Simmons to come back from an 0-3 deficit against Boston, so it may be best to let Ben continue to rest and be ready for next season.
Or, perhaps, a potential Game 5 Wednesday?
“I don’t know, I think it’s the same as I said (Sunday) – we’ll see how he progresses, and see if there’s an opportunity for him to play at some point if the series goes on,” head coach Steve Nash said when asked that very question at Monday’s shoot-around.
Simmons worked out Saturday with Sunday a planned recovery day, but as the story goes, Simmons woke up with back soreness and the decision was made to not even try to play Monday.
Disappointing for Nets fans on multiple levels, and for the team as well, in the context that they’d love to see Simmons have the chance to be out there with the squad.
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“I’d be very careful that the word disappointed doesn’t get taken out of context, but of course we’re all disappointed because we’d love to see Ben on the floor with his teammates,” Nash said. “But, his back is his back, and we have to work through this. He has to continue to fight as all guys do when they’re returning to play.”
“I think it’s unfortunate for him, because I know he wanted to be out there playing with us,” center Nic Claxton added. “To have a setback, I know it sucks for us and it sucks for him.”
If the Nets can win Monday and continue to win, they would face Game 5 in Boston Wednesday night, then Game 6 Friday night in Brooklyn before a deciding Game 7 Sunday back in Beantown.
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