The Brooklyn Nets are the biggest mess in the NBA right now, and their problems are coming from several different places.
Star guard Kyrie Irving is under fire for his anti-Semitic tweet, and he is now facing a suspension, not to mention calls from some to be suspended for the entire season or even banned outright.
Meanwhile, the team fired head coach Steve Nash earlier this week, and it is reportedly on the verge of hiring Ime Udoka, a man who was suspended by the Celtics for an inappropriate relationship with a team staffer, to replace Nash.
Then there is the matter of Ben Simmons.
Simmons Could Be An Anchor Dragging Brooklyn Down With Him
When the Nets traded for him months ago, some thought he could be the missing piece by virtue of giving them an intense fast-breaking dimension and solving some of their defensive woes.
But it hasn’t happened, at least not yet.
Simmons is averaging just 6.2 points on 44.1 percent shooting from the field, and while he’s also contributing 6.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists a game, he isn’t making the impact he is capable of making.
The question with Simmons has never been his talent, which is undeniable, but his emotional health and aggressiveness, and it’s been a question that has dogged him ever since he declared for the 2016 NBA Draft.
He doesn’t consistently push the ball upcourt and create fast-break opportunities, and he still appears to pass up easy shot opportunities at times.
“SHOOT IT BEN!”
Kyrie Irving is begging Ben Simmons to shoot the ball
pic.twitter.com/gXGlCtB4QJ
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) October 27, 2022
Some may be wondering if Simmons is damaged goods ever since he took a seemingly neutral statement from Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers and decided to take it as a huge insult and demand a trade in 2021.
Doc Rivers answers a question whether Ben Simmons can be the point guard of a championship team pic.twitter.com/8xL35u98RC
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) June 21, 2021
If he is, Brooklyn’s problems could become much worse, even if they were to banish Irving.
The post Is It Time To Be Worried About Ben Simmons? appeared first on The Cold Wire.