Taylyn HadleyDecember 16, 2024
Jeff Haynes/NBAE by means of Getty Images
Following the trade of their slow-paced point player Dennis Schroder to the Golden State Warriors, the Brooklyn Nets are now counting on the busy Ben Simmons to fill the position.
“Dennis was bottom 10 slowest point player in the NBA– speed does not imply you're much better or even worse– and Ben is 18th-fastest … We're going to attempt to play quicker,” Nets head coach Jodi Fernandez stated, per New York City Post‘s Brian Lewis. “The ball is going to fly. He's going to press. He's going to toss it ahead.”
Fernandez will concentrate on increasing Simmons' minutes on the court as the brand-new flooring basic, having formerly not surpassing 27:20.
“I believe my constraint today is 27. I believe it's around that. Ideally that modifications quickly,” Simmons stated per Lewis.
Simmons has actually been balancing 5.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.5 helps while shooting 59.7 percent from the field, the greatest of his profession.
Ahead of his trade, 31-year-old Schröder has actually been having a standout year, balancing 18.4 points and 6.6 helps per video game while leading the Nets to an unexpected 10-15 start.
This will not be the very first time Simmons has actually led a group, as he worked as the point player for the Philadelphia 76ers throughout his very first 4 years in the league.
He and the extremely promoted 2020-2021 76ers, under Doc Rivers, completed with a 49-23 record however suffered an Eastern Conference semifinals loss to the Atlanta Hawks behind Simmons and previous colleague Joel Embiid.
Before the Schröder trade, Fernandez informed press reporters that he desired Simmons to take more shots, as he is presently balancing the least points per video game of his profession at simply 5.1.
“I desire him to shoot more,” Fernández informed press reporters on Sunday. “My objective for him is 10 [shots per game]He's got to discover a method to arrive. He hasn't arrived yet, however I understand he can.”
This belief stays essential, as a lot of leading point player today require to be a shooting risk to draw protectors and accelerate the flooring.
“I do not care about makes, misses out on,” Fernandez included. “I simply wish to see that shots are increasing. He's more than capable.”
