Ben Simmons is coming off perhaps his best game of the season, with the erratic big man posting season-highs in points (10) and rebounds (9) in Tuesday's home win over Charlotte.
The challenge for Simmons and the Nets was for him to put up those kinds of numbers on a regular basis and play solid defense.
He'll have extra motivation to put up back-to-back solid performances when the Nets visit Philadelphia on Friday night ahead of their third straight Western Swing game.
Simmons returned to the court at Wells Fargo Arena for the first time since Feb. 3 against the Nets, when he did not attempt a field goal or free throw but had nine rebounds, five assists and four fouls in 13 minutes. becomes. Last season.
In that game (Philadelphia's third since being traded to the Nets), the 28-year-old was booed when he first entered the game off the bench in the first quarter, and more boos every time he touched the ball. was heard.
“That's funny to me,” Simmons said after the game. “A grown man got angry and yelled at me. …It's not that deep. It's a sport, but it's what it entails, so I enjoy it.”
“He likes to play and he's a competitor,” Cam Thomas said of Simmons. “He likes that atmosphere. I'm sure he's ready to make an impact on the court and do everything for us.”
Simmons appeared in three consecutive games for the first time this season after missing four of the team's first 10 games.
With Nic Claxton out for more than a week with a lower back strain and doubtful for Friday's game, Simmons could be tasked with guarding former teammate Joel Embiid.
“I hope he plays the same game as the last game,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said after Thursday's practice in Brooklyn about his expectations for Simmons, who played well in the win over Charlotte. [from Simmons] Or even more. He's that type of player. You can always ask him for more because he is such a good person. ”
Or he could be at least that good.
He was scoreless for 22 minutes in Sunday's game against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Fernandez hopes to see more of what Simmons showed against Charlotte.
“It was his presence in the last game, his physicality, his engagement,” Fernandes said. “I was so excited to see that. I told him so because he inspired the rest of the group. It's that energy of, 'He's going to give me the ball and I want to play with him.' . He's going to be physical on defense. ”
The Nets will have a chance to win back-to-back games for the second time this season when they play a 76ers team on Friday that is in freefall without Paul George, who suffered a bone bruise in his knee Wednesday night. .
The Nets lost five of six games before defeating the Hornets, but the Sixers are in disarray at 2-12.
They had the worst record in the league, losing five games in a row despite entering the season aiming for a championship.
