The Brooklyn Nets are simply essentially the most mysterious group heading into the brand new season. The expertise is there, however the query marks linger.
Can they compensate for Ben Simmons’ incapacity to shoot from the perimeter and the free-throw line? Can Kyrie Irving keep wholesome? Can they overcome their lack of measurement? Will Simmons at middle work?
The Nets have loads of skeptics, however Irving has publicly assured Simmons every little thing will probably be simply superb.
“Anytime any person comes again it’s gonna take a while.” Irving informed reporters after Simmons preseason debut. “What our accountability is as teammates for him is simply to make the sport simpler. I used to be telling him at halftime if you’re taking part in with some high-level gamers, regardless of what you heard, we’re going to make the sport simple for you.
“He’s gonna love taking part in with us. He’s gonna love getting up and down the ground with us. For him to be on the market for his first day and for us to expertise it with him, it’s one thing we will bear in mind for the remainder of the season as one thing that we received by. Since day one, highly-anticipated and glad it went his manner tonight on some simple baskets. He made some nice performs however clearly he has methods to go earlier than he will get to feeling like his true self.”
Simmons had his moments within the Nets’ preseason opener towards the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.
He completed with 6 factors, 4 rebounds and 5 assists in 19 minutes, however was nonetheless the topic of ridicule after lacking his solely two free throws and severely botching a turnaround jumper.
It’s secure to say Simmons should a present much more to silence his doubters. However at the very least for now he has Irving in his nook.