2 min read • April 22, 2022
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With their season hanging on by a thread, Ben Simmons is expected to make his Nets debut in Game 4 against the Celtics in Brooklyn next Monday, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
Simmons hasn't played since the unceremonious end of his Philadelphia tenure on June 20, 2021 and his Brooklyn debut has been pushed back by the re-emergence of his lower back issue.
The ProBasketballDocs are excited about Simmons being ready to play this soon after the news of his herniated disc broke but are conversely pessimistic about his ability to contribute to the level the Nets will need him in his first game back.
The Docs give Simmons an SIC Health score of 41 as he prepares to play with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving for the first time in this high-intensity environment.
Simmons is yet to confirm he will play, saying Friday he is still day-to-day as the back injury is difficult to get back from and be the same level right away.
The 25-year-old Aussie received an epidural steroid shot in early March to help ease pain emanating from his herniated disc. At the time of the news, the Docs declared concern regarding his ability to be able to make it back and be productive for Brooklyn this season, and have maintained that concern as his recovery has gradually progressed.
There is precedence for a long-term comeback, as we have seen fellow unique do-it-all defender Draymond Green return and perform well in the playoffs after over two months off from his herniated disc.
Green reportedly didn't need an epidural, however, and even after his return, it was about 10 games before he was back to his former self, and that doesn't remove the risk of an aggravation as he picks up more intense playoff minutes.
Simmons hasn't played all season and even 20 minutes in Game 4 would be a big ask for the All-NBA defender. Additionally, he has yet to take the court with Durant, Irving, Bruce Brown, and the rest of Brooklyn's key rotation pieces, and has not even had much time to scrimmage as he just advanced to live practicing in the last week.
Beyond his having to rapidly re-acclimate to game speed and the sky-high intensity of this series, his emergence may take the Nets out of a groove to incorporate him offensively.
The Nets, down 2-0, will try to finally overcome the unflappable Celtics on Saturday ahead of Simmons' potential much-anticipated debut.
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