The Brooklyn Nets didn’t have a good showing in their first game of the season on Wednesday, and neither did Ben Simmons.
In his debut for the team, Simmons registered four points, five rebounds, and five assists, and he fouled out of the game.
The Nets lost to the New Orleans Pelicans by a score of 130-108.
On Friday, the Nets took on the Toronto Raptors with a chance to get in the win column for the first time this season, and they did just that.
Brooklyn beat Toronto 109-105, and Simmons had an improved performance.
While he scored just six points, he chipped in with 10 rebounds, eight assists, and two blocks.
Ben Simmons tonight:
6 Points
10 Rebounds
8 Assists
2 Blocks
60% FGSolid performance. 💪 pic.twitter.com/jJvorQ00zU
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 22, 2022
After the game, Nets coach Steve Nash had a lot of good things to say about the 26-year-old.
“A step up for Ben,” Nash said after the game. “From the jump he was more aggressive. He got in the paint, every time he gets in the paint he causes problems. … He’s starting to show the player he can be, and I still think he’s got a ways to go, so really proud of him. He shook off the first night, and I thought he was much more aggressive in an important game for us.”
Simmons has the potential to be a game changer for the Nets this season, and his performance on Friday was a step in the right direction.
Just Getting Started
After missing the entire 2021-22 season, Simmons is likely in the process of readjusting to NBA play.
That may take a few games, so Nets fans should be patient with him.
While Nash clearly was happy to see Simmons be more aggressive on Friday, the three-time All-Star still has some work to do in that department.
He attempted three shots in Brooklyn’s season opener and five on Friday.
That’s progress, and to be fair, he has been efficient so far this season (shooting 62.5 percent from the field), but the Nets are going to need more than just a few points per game from him.
Simmons’ lack of aggression has been a storyline throughout his entire NBA career.
However, even during his stint with the Philadelphia 76ers, he averaged 11.6 shot attempts per game.
He’s averaging just 4.0 shot attempts per game so far this season, and that number is going to need to get bigger in order for him to really live up to the player he can be.
But again, Simmons is just starting to get his footing after missing an entire season, so he may very well turn things up a notch in the near future.
