Nets' 'Hopeful' Ben Simmons Returns vs. Celtics
The Brooklyn Nets will be without point forward Ben Simmons (left knee soreness) for the second straight game on Monday night vs. the star-depleted Los Angeles Lakers.
The hope is that Simmons, along with veteran wing T.J. Warren (left shin contusion) can return for Brooklyn against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.
“Yeah, just hopefully they’re ready for Wednesday," head coach Jacque Vaughn said pregame. "Both not going tonight so both showing signs of progress which is good. Hopeful for Wednesday.”
The reason for Simmons missing Monday's game is simply out of precaution. The Nets' point forward has dealt with knee soreness sporadically this season. Despite the reoccurrence of the injury, Brooklyn opted out of giving Simmons an MRI to further evaluate the soreness. In addition, Vaughn stated the team has yet to talk to him about his workload due to the injury.
“We haven’t gotten to specifics," Vaughn said. "I think everything’s right now been based around getting him back to healthy, to an ability to play as soon as possible.”
Throughout the past three games, the Nets head coach has not shied away from wanting Simmons to play in both games of future back-to-backs. He expects all 17 of his players to be available to play in those scenarios. For context, Simmons has been injured with knee soreness in two second games of back-to-backs.
“I think I said before and I don’t want to shy away from it, the type of person I am and coach, I want every guy available for every single game. That is the goal of this team," Vaughn said. "That’s every single player from one through 17 until I’m told otherwise.
"I think our conversations will be real and what can we handle from a management and load perspective, cumulative loads across the board over the course of games. So all those questions will be on the table in order for us to keep our group healthy and whole as we trend toward the end of the year.”
