Ben Simmons’ deficiency of rim strain underscores Nets loss to Heat, 109-80

Miami Heat guard Kyle Lowry is 6 ft flat. Nets star Ben Simmons is 6-foot-10.

But when Simmons experienced Lowry just one-on-a person in the high write-up with a crystal clear peak gain in the 3rd quarter of Thursday night’s matchup, he tossed the ball out to the perimeter to his teammate, Kevin Durant.

And when Durant did what any great teammate would do – get the ball back again to the man with the mismatch – Simmons posted up Lowry, took just one dribble and kicked the ball again out to the perimeter.

O’Neale missed the evenly contested 3.

Thursday night’s matchup amongst the Nets and Heat was only the 2nd of four preseason games — and it was a video game both of those Kyrie Irving (paternal leave) and Joe Harris (ankle servicing) viewed from the sidelines — but the 109-80 loss to a shorthanded conference rival underscored a obvious location for worry the Nets will need to handle if they’re positioning by themselves for a extensive playoff run.

Simmons does not have a lot of an inclination to attack the basket.

It is dependable to keep in intellect that Thursday night marked just Simmons’ next match right after 480 days absent from NBA basketball. It marked just his second match after offseason back again surgical procedure, and just his next sport with new teammates, with newly set up devices on both of those offense and protection.

It is also dependable to keep in head that the offense had substantially far more pop Monday night with a thoroughly healthy starting up 5 that highlighted the two Irving and Harris in opposition to Simmons’ previous 76ers group.

But though Simmons and his deficiency of a jumper have been considerably the subject of conversation, it is Simmons’ absence of an inclination to place force on the rim that was a issue. After all, it is putting pressure on the rim that forces an opposing defense to deal, and when the protection contracts, Simmons’ playmaking expertise — coupled with the Nets’ perimeter shooters — can be lethal.

If Simmons isn’t heading to assault the rim, however, and he’s not a danger from wherever remotely near to the 3-position line, the Nets are pretty much taking part in 4-on-five basketball. From an elite defensive team like the Heat, that was Brooklyn’s undoing on the offensive stop Thursday night time.

Simmons may have tallied much more assists had his teammates converted on some of their open looks. On one particular participate in, for example, Simmons rifled a just one-handed go in changeover to a streaking Durant, who pulled up on the fastbreak for his trademark, in-stride 3.

The shot did not fall, but there is masses of historic evidence proving it will drop at several junctures this time. The sequence was evidence that if the Nets stick with it via what Nash described as a interval that’s “going to be unpleasant at occasions,” there is possible for a dynamic offense provided all of Brooklyn’s weapons.

But Simmons also passed up on belongings which ended up beneficial for him to score. On another possession, with his back to the basket on the baseline, he threw an about-the-head dump-off go to a teammate chopping upcoming to him. The go was tipped absent and intercepted.

The go was predictable due to the fact Simmons didn’t — and doesn’t — seem to score. He turned the ball over 6 situations to only 4 helps in 25 minutes through the first 3 quarters right before head coach Steve Nash benched the starters and critical reserves for the ultimate extend of the recreation. Some of the turnovers were being telegraphed passes from a player not looking to rating.

And such is the state of affairs for the Nets, mainly because this is who Simmons is as a participant. He is a single of the most bodily gifted gamers in all of basketball — a near 7-footer with supreme athleticism, physique and playmaking techniques — but his reluctance to attack the basket generally bails out opposing defenses.

Durant concluded with 22 factors on 8-of-12 shooting from the ground but confirmed some stress when he accidentally threw the ball absent trying to get the ball to O’Neale, kicking off a Heat quickly crack and putting them on the line.

Nash warned points would glimpse ugly early as the Nets adjust to both of those new rotations and new schemes, and unpleasant described their loss to the Warmth on Thursday. It is only preseason, but the exact can be mentioned for the two other Japanese Conference contenders who have blown the cap off the Barclays Center.

Next up: five additional times of coaching camp in advance of touring to Milwaukee to experience Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Bucks on Oct. 12.

()