Steve Nash thinks Ben Simmons can return in the regular season. The song is over at 1:07.
The Brooklyn Nets have no idea when Ben Simmons will be able to make his season debut as he continues to deal with a back injury, but coach Steve Nash said after the shootaround Tuesday that he has high hopes.
Nash said that he was just doing his rehabilitation and strengthening.
Simmons, who was acquired at the trade deadline last month from the Philadelphia 76ers, still hasn't been cleared to practice and the uncertainty surrounding his status is drawing even more attention. Nash thought the back issue was related to the fact that Simmons hadn't played all season as he waited on a trade out of Philadelphia, but the issue has become more serious in recent weeks as Simmons hasn't played. Simmons was not with the Nets.
Nash said that the biggest thing they could do was to have him involved in everything. We want him in every meeting, every walkthrough, every film session, whatever it is that he is around the group. We would love for him to be with the team all the time, but we have to think about that as well.
Nash said that Simmons, who joined the Nets last week in Philadelphia, has been in the meetings with the team, but he did acknowledge that it will take even more time to find a rhythm once Simmons starts practicing again.
Nash thinks he has a good understanding. It has been getting better. We want him to learn, but there is a lot going on when you are trying to get on the court.
I don't expect him to be totally dialed in on what we're doing because part of that is getting out there with your teammates, seeing how it fits. He will be a great fit for our guys. Some of that stuff is getting out there and doing it, learning on the fly, rather than reading it off the notes.
Veteran guard Goran Dragic acknowledged that the situation surrounding Simmons return is difficult, but he is trying to focus on the fact that once Simmons is healthy and ready to play he should be able to provide another boost for a team that comes into its Tuesday game having won.
It is tough, but we are all professionals here. Everyone knows how to play basketball. I always look at it this way, even though you need some time to get on the floor and figure out those things, we can't wait until we get him.
It will be even better if you get another weapon, another defender, another rebounder. We wish him all the best and he can come back and help us.
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