Author: Lorenzo Smith

2022 NBA Mock Draft: Lottery Edition

With the end of the 21-22 season around the corner and the NBA Draft Lottery scheduled to take place on Tuesday May 17, let’s breakdown who we view as the top 14 prospects.

Draft Philosophy

Is the most talented player in an NBA draft also the most important player, or even the best player to take with the top pick in the draft? The goal should always be to build a Championship roster. With that in mind, should we over value the flashy 6’1 Guard who may be projected to score 25 points per game even if history dictates that teams led by small guards rarely win championships? (Detroit’s Isiah Thomas being the rare example). Data tells us that size, length, and versatility results in winning basketball. For this mock the players are broken out into tiers with their projected outcome.

Tier 1: Top 2 Players on a Championship level team

Tier 2: All Star Potential

Tier 3: High End Starter

Tier 4 Starter

Tier 5: Rotation

Tier 6: Low Floor Wing Bets

Tier 7: Low Floor Second Round Bets

Tier 1

1. Chet Holmgren: Height – 7’0 Weight – 195 lbs

If selected with the first overall pick, Chet will go down as having one of the lowest floors for a number one pick. A scary proposition for any GM willing to take him but his high-end outcome is way too tantalizing to overlook. Chet projects as an elite shot blocker with the lateral quickness to stick with guards even after being beat off the dribble. Offensively, he possesses guard skills that allows him to lead on fast breaks and beat opposing bigs off the dribble. His three-point shooting is coming along and he has good touch around the rim. If Chet hits his end outcome, he’s a Franchise altering player that can define a team’s defensive culture (ala Rudy Gobert) but also be utilized on the offensive end to great impact. The problem is his weight. At 195 lbs, he’ll be one of the skinniest players in the league. With the highest ceiling in the draft, I still believe it’s worth taking him top overall.

2. Jabari Smith Jr: Height – 6’10 Weight – 210 lbs

Smith is one of the best hustlers on defense in draft while also possessing arguably the best jumper. At 6’10, Smith offers teams a shot making big that can space the floor. His lack of ball handling skill limits his ability to create his own shot and forces him to only play the 5/4 on offense.

Tier 2

3. Paolo Banchero: Height – 6’10 Weight – 250 lbs

With various interior moves and the quickness to beat opposing bigs off the bounce, I expect Banchero to make an immediate impact to the team that drafts him. An underrated skill is his ability to play make off the dribble. With NBA spacing and if his shot continues to develop, I can see a scenario in which Banchero’s playmaking will be his elite skill.

4. Shaedon Sharpe: Height – 6’6 Weight – 175 lbs

An above the rim wing who thrives on fast-paced teams. His elite handles allow him to be shifty and his ability to shoot the ball makes him a threat anywhere on the court. Sharpe is a gamble as he hasn’t played any college basketball this season but is a gamble worth taking as high-end versatile wing players are hard to come by in the NBA.

5. Jaden Ivy: Height – 6’4 Weight- 195 lbs

A dynamic isolation player with a monster first step that allow him to get the rim with ease. Ivy is one of the best athletes in the draft and will definitely turn heads with his monstrous dunks in the league but it remains to be seen how his lack of playmaking ability and defensive struggles will impact him in the NBA.

Tier 3

6. Keegan Murray: Height – 6’8 Weight – 215 lbs

With the best feel for the game in the draft, Keegan is going to a good player and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up better than player’s selected above him. With such a high floor and low ceiling it makes sense to have him at the top of tier 3. Expect him to play point forward with responsibility on him to make smart reads to give his team the best chance to win.

7. Jeremy Sochan: Height – 6’9 Weight – 230 lbs

A versatile wing player who is able to guard all five positions. An offensively limited player but is worth a high lottery pick due to his willingness to make hustle plays, playmaking skills, and his overall basketball intelligence. His NBA outcome all depends on if he’s able to develop a reliable jump shot.

8. AJ Griffin: Height 6’6 Weight – 222 lbs

A gifted wing scorer who can light it up from 3. Also possess the ball handling skill to create his own shot. He’s tough but not a great defensive player to project as a 3 and D wing.

9. Jalen Duren: Height 6’10 Weight – 230 lbs

An athletic and explosive shot blocker who already has the NBA frame to oppose other NBA bigs. Projects as a decent finisher at the rim and a good pick and roll partner. Will need to work on reading pick and roll defense in order to be an elite defensive presence.

Tier 4

10. Dyson Daniels: Height – 6’6 Weight – 199 lbs

A gifted playmaker and defender, that utilizes his strong feel for the game to facilitate and to control the tempo of a basketball game. The lack of shot making upside limits his ceiling. Dyson can become a reliable starting point guard if he continues to improve his 3 point shot.

11. Bennedict Mathurin: Height – 6’6 Weight – 210 lbs

An elite spot up three point shooter who also possesses the athleticism to be an above the rim finisher on fast break plays. Will need to improve his defensive consistency to project as a 3 and D wing.

12. Blake Wesley: Height – 6’5 Weight – 181 lbs

One of the best handles in the draft, Wesley is able to break down the defense with ease. This is an upside pick that projects Blake adding better passing reads and a more consistent three point shot to his repertoire.

13. Johnny Davis: Height – 6’5 Weight – 194 lbs

A shifty, playmaking guard who thrives off of making mid-range plays. Davis is most comfortable in the mid-range which also happens to be the most inefficient shot in the game.

14. TyTy Washington: Height – 6’3 Weight – 197 lbs

A guard with a great feel for the game and a knack of getting his teammates in great position to make plays. TyTy had an injury riddled season but I believe in his shooting ability to translate to the NBA.

May 17, 2022
The NBA’s Dearly Departed: Chicago Bulls Edition
Even with being eliminated from the Playoffs in the first round, this was a surprise season for the Bulls. Chicago had one goal this season and that was to surround Zach LaVine with as much talent as possible to sell him on the future of this team and convince him to reup with the team rather than look around as a free agent. With that in mind, the Bulls put together an impressively solid roster of veterans and defensive payers, improving their win total by over 40% YoY. There’s a lot to look forward to next season as the Bulls were injury prone this season, especially with their difference making defensive anchors, Caruso and Ball being out majority of the season, and in Balls case, the playoffs. The big question for the Bulls this offseason is, did they convince LaVine to stay?

Notable Free Agents
- Guard Zach LaVine
- Guard Matt Thomas (Restricted)
- Forward Derrick Jones Jr.
- Forward Tony Brown Jr.
- Forward Tyler Cook (Restricted)
- Center Tony Bradley (Player Option)
- Center Tristan Thompson
Projected 2022-2023 Starting Lineup
- PG Lonzo Ball
- SG Zach LaVine (Free Agent)
- SF DeMar Derozan
- PF Patrick Williams
- C Nikola Vucevic
Will Zach LaVine Resign

Outside of a few role players the Bulls are essentially running it back for the 22/23 season, but that’s assuming that LaVine resigns. Under the radar, Zach has proven himself to be a capable leader and scorer with the Bulls while also improving on the defensive end almost every season. With a ceiling that have yet to be hit, the Bulls are desperate to keep LaVine in the fold as the team is built to go as far as LaVine can take them. The question is, what is LaVine looking for? Is he looking to be to sole focus point? Is it a desired state to live in? Or is it a desire to be in the best place to win? If the goal is to win, then the Bulls is the best option as the next best teams with potential cap space to sign him would be the Portland Trailblazers or the Indiana Pacers.

Winning on the Margin

With a starting 5 set for the next season, and roll players like Caruso and White signed, look for the Bulls to focus on shoring up their bench with solid reliable veteran role players. Injuries killed the Bulls this season, which forced them to rely on young, inexpensive, and inexperienced players. This is their window if they successfully resign LaVine, and in order to maximize this window they will have to use their cap space wisely on real veteran presence on their bench. This is an important off season for the Bulls and it will be interesting to see if they can continue the positive momentum from this season.
May 11, 2022
Celtics vs Bucks Game 1 Breakdown

Although they lacked home court advantage, the Bucks were able to control the flow of the game, beating the Celtics 101-89. Even with Giannis Antetokoumpo reminding everyone why he’s considered one of the best players in the world, I still expect this series to go to 6 or 7 games.

Bucks Role Players

The biggest question for the Bucks in game one was where the secondary offense would be coming from with Kris Middleton out. Well, the Bucks’ benched and rolled players all stepped up. I don’t think anyone really expected solid 20+ minutes from Grayson Allen, Jevon Carter, and Wesley Matthews in this game but the Bucks really needed those contributions to control the flow of game one. Jrue Holiday was also great for Milwaukee, putting the clamp on Tatum/Brown as well as being the Bucks’ primary scorer, scoring a team high of 25 points. For the Bucks to ultimately make it out of round 2, they will need to continue to empower their role players.

Closer Than It Looks

This was an important game for the Celtics to win given that this was a home game, and it may seem that the Bucks are running away with this series, but I truly believe the series is closer than it really looks. This was a bad offensive game for the Celtics as they shot only 33% from the field and turned the ball over 18 times, but I feel that they’re a few adjustments away and can really challenge the bucks. The Bucks’ interior defense was dominant, but Boston was able to get open three’s that just didn’t go in. Expect the Celtics to embrace those open shots more, and look for those open teammates and really challenge the Bucks there. Also, Boston rarely head hunted Bobby Portis or Grayson Allen, opting instead to challenge Jrue Holiday who is one of the best perimeter defenders in the game. I expect Boston to either use Jrue in more pick and roll actions to get him off their primary ball handlers, or to really go at the Bucks poor defenders such as Bobby Portis.

I’m expecting this to be an interesting series and it’s fun to reminded how dominant of a player Giannis truly is!

May 2, 2022
The NBA’s Dearly Departed: Utah Jazz Edition
As teams in the NBA Playoffs get eliminated, Murphy’s Multiverse takes a look at their prospects for next season. The Utah Jazz had a lot riding on their 2021-2022 season after multiple disappointing playoff losses in the last 5 years. This was a year to determine if the duo of All-Stars, Donavon Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, is one capable of finally bringing a championship to Utah. Famously, Mitchell stated at the beginning of the season that he will not settle for anything less than reaching the Conference Finals. A goal that wasn’t realistic to begin with given their roster make-up. Can the Jazz finally put to together a roster that will propel them past the 2^nd round in the Playoffs?

Notable Free Agents
- Guard Trent Forrest (Restricted)
- Forward Danuel House
- Forward Eric Paschall
- Center Hassan Whiteside
Projected 2022-2023 Starting Lineup
- PG Mike Conley
- SG Donovan Mitchell
- SF Bojan Bogdanovic
- PF Royce O’Neale
- C Rudy Gobert
The Rudy Gobert/Donavan Mitchell Conundrum

The relationship between Mitchell and Gobert seems to have reached a breaking point on and off the court with both players taking subtle (and not so subtle) swipes at each other after various disappointing losses throughout the season. In the NBA, winning always seems to fix everything but with constant disappointing playoff losses, it’ll be very unlikely that the team can move forward with both stars on the roster. Which one the Jazz should trade is the most important question. Mitchell is a gifted scorer that’s able to light it up in bursts and give his team a strong offensive weapon, but his lack of strong growth as a playmaker limits the Jazz and his lack of size at 6’1 makes him a consistent defensive liability on the perimeter. Gobert on the hand is one of the best defensive centers in the league whose presence down low forces opponents to jack up jump shots instead of attempting to get to the rim, but unfortunately, he’s easy to scheme against as his lack of foot speed and lateral quickness makes him a huge liability against opposing pick and roll offense.

Lack of Off-Season Flexibility

The unfortunate truth in the NBA is that small market teams have a hard time attracting free agents and must typically overpay for talent to get them to agree to sign there. The Jazz badly needs perimeter defense as Mike Conley is now washed and Mitchell is too small to truly be a defensive threat. The unfortunate truth is that with three large contracts on the books, they really don’t have the flexibility to sign meaningful free agents. The Jazz is between a rock and a hard place, and they will have to blow up this roster with trades in order to truly make an off season impact.

Quin Snyder’s Future

Snyder has been the coach of the Jazz since 2014 with a positive win percentage. He’s a good and successful coach in a league that has a deficit of good coaching talent, but unless you’re Greg Popovich or Erik Spoelstra, the coach is typically the first one to go when a team is in turmoil. With Mitchell and Gobert both signed to long term contracts, I can see a scenario in which the Jazz chooses starting fresh with a new coach as a band aid fix for their massive problems.
May 2, 2022
The NBA’s Dearly Departed: Brooklyn Nets Edition
As teams in the NBA Playoffs get eliminated, Murphy’s Multiverse takes a look at their prospects for next season. The Brooklyn Nets were just swept by the Boston Celtics. What will it take for them to become real title contenders next season?

Notable Free Agents
- Guard Kyrie Irving (player option)
- Guard Patty Mills (player option)
- Guard Goran Dragic
- Guard David Duke (Restricted)
- Forward/Center Lamarcus Aldridge
- Forward/Center Nic Claxton
- Forward/Center Blake Griffin
Projected 2022-2023 Starting Lineup
- PG Kyrie Irving
- SG Joe Harris
- SF Kevin Durant
- PF Ben Simmons
- C *Free Agent*
The Brooklyn Nets season was tumultuous and disappointing at the very least. The organization still has championship aspirations, but it feels like their title window is getting smaller and smaller. This is an important off season for the Nets, with various moving pieces that needs to be put in place for them to be true contenders.

Kyrie Irving has a player option and is eligible to sign for a 5-year SuperMax worth over $250 million dollars. All signs’ points to the Nets agreeing to this extension but is this the best move? Especially given the distraction caused by Irving this season and the lack of real effort displayed by Irving during their embarrassing first round sweep by the Celtics.

A lot of weaknesses were exposed during the playoffs that the Nets will need to solidify during this offseason. Look for Brooklyn to shore up some front court depth as well as focus on wing versatility. The Nets are currently guard heavy and it was quite alarming to watch Dragic/Irving attempt to guard and rebound over Daniel Theis in the playoffs.

I don’t expect many of the current free agents to be resigned during the offseason, especially Nic Claxton as he’s eligible for a 5-year $55 million extension that the Nets just simply can’t afford. Selfishly, I would love Sean Marks to attempt to sign Bruce Brown as he was the most consistent player on the Nets roster this season but like Claxton the Nets may not be able to afford him.
April 30, 2022
Eastern Conference Playoff Notebook

The NBA’s Eastern Conference Playoffs have been slightly disappointing with all series most likely ending in 5 or 6 games. To date, outside of the Brooklyn Vs. Boston series, all series have played 4 games. As we move on to the end of the first round, let’s look at the various story lines.

The Boston Celtics Defense

We all knew that the Celtics defense was going to be a problem for the Nets but I doubt anyone expected the Celtics to be leading 3-0 and expecting to sweep Brooklyn. The switch heavy Celtics have locked up Durant all series, forcing Durant to shoot 36% from the field (a steep drop compared to his 54% from the 2021 series). What’s the difference here? How is Boston able to achieve shutting down KD like this? Well, it’s the wing depth. Between Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart, and Al Horford, Boston can easily switch onto Durant, quickly invading his shooting space, giving him very little space to get a clean jump shot off. It doesn’t help that the Nets are running very little back screens to even try to get KD clean looks. The consistent defensive intensity from almost everyone on the Celtics in a playoff setting is eye opening here and gives me confidence that the Celtics can make a real push here in the post season.

Khris Middleton Injury

Losing Khris Middleton early in the playoffs is a huge blow to the Bucks. It might not feel that way given their current opponent, but the impact will be felt if the Bucks face the Celtics in the second round. Without Middleton, the Celtics would be able to swarm Giannis, making him work for every bucket he makes. The Celtics will settle for open Bobby Portis shots if that means Giannis will be uncomfortable the whole game. The Bucks will have to make adjustments to deal with the intensity of Boston’s never-ending lineup of switchable, defensive, and athletic forwards. The Bucks coach, Mike Budenholzer is not known for making many adjustments mid series, so it will be interesting to follow how the Bucks adjust to the Celtics defense without Middleton’s extra offensive punch.

How Far Can Embiid Go?

Joel Embiid is currently playing with a thumb ligament tear…yeah, you read that right. Joel Embiid is playing with a ligament tear and has no plans to sit out the playoffs. The plan here is to get surgery after the playoffs and fight through the pain with the hopes of bringing the championship to Philly. This is commendable-if not silly and dangerous to his career, but still commendable. I understand the mentality as it feels like the championship window for Philadelphia is quickly closing here but it will be interesting to see if this injury gets worst or if this will have a long term impact to Joel’s NBA career

April 25, 2022
NBA Playoff Preview: the Eastern Conference

The 21/22 season has been an interesting one as 10 teams ended their season with a positive record. This should make for multiple compelling series as a lot of these teams are closer than people may realize.

2) Boston Celtics Vs. 7) Brooklyn Nets

Tale of the Tape: The Nets were able to defeat Darius Garland and the Cavs to secure the 7th seed, but the victory did reveal issues that they will need to work on if they plan on winning their series against the Celtics. The Nets best defender is Kevin Durant, who also happens to be their best offensive player. Durant is an amazing weak side defender, meeting his opponents at the rim after they blow by the Nets perimeter defenders (which happens fairly often). In order for the Nets to stand a chance in this series, they’ll have to rely on more than just Durant and Bruce Brown to make defensive reads.

Another issue for the Nets will be how they manage Durant and Irving’s minutes throughout this series. The Nets 2nd unit is awful and is typically the culprit whenever the Nets blow large leads. Nash has tried staggering Durant and Irving so that Irving is the primary decision maker whenever the 2nd unit comes in, but that has had a negative impact as the Nets are better with Irving and Durant consistently together. I can see a scenario in which the Nets pull a Tom Thibodeau and play Durant and Irving 45+ minutes in order to stay in contention throughout the series.

Key Matchup: Kevin Durant Vs. Boston Celtics Defense

The Celtics, who ended the season with the top defensive rating in the league, are no slouch of an opponent for Kevin Durant. The Celtics are loaded with guards who fight over screens and pressure the ball handler (Marcus Smart), as well as bigs who can read pick and roll plays as well as rotate over to contest shots (Al Horford and Robert Williams). The Celtics game plan is to pressure Kevin Durant and make every shot as difficult as possible. They’re not going to stop him, but the plan should be to get the ball out of his hands as much as possible. The Celtics will settle for open threes from secondary role players if that means Kevin is out of rhythm. Throughout the season, that has proven to be the most successful strategy against the Nets as outside of Durant and Irving, as there’s a a deficit of shot creators on the team.

Prediction: The Celtics defense is extremely impressive, with veteran players who knows how to set the tone in a playoff series from a defensive standpoint. The Nets can’t withstand the pressure that the Celtics will apply. Celtics in 6.

3) Milwaukee Bucks Vs. Chicago Bulls

Tale of the Tape: This is a tough series to get as the Bulls have two stats that tells very different stories. The Bulls have the worst record against winning teams. They ended March 0 and 16 against the top three teams from each conference. This should tell us that they bully bad teams and fold against good ones, which means that they’re in line for a very early exit from the Playoffs. As I dug deeper, it occurred to me that DeMar Derozan is 4th in clutch scoring and holds a 122.2 offensive rating in clutch situations. This makes it hard to bet against a team who seems equipped to handle the intensity of a playoff series when it feels like every possession is a clutch situation.

Key Matchup: Zach LaVine Vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo

This is a very important series for Zach LaVine, given that he’s a free agent in the off-season and that this will be his first time playing in the post season. He has a lot to prove if he plans on getting offered a max contract. LaVine has gotten better as a defender over the years, but this will be his true test as he’ll share defending duties on Antetokounmpo with second year player Patrick Williams. Giannis is obviously unstoppable, but all eyes will be on how LaVine handles guarding the reining finals MVP. The Bulls will throw a lot of schemes on Giannis to try to low him down but my eyes will be on how “relaxed” or “pressured” Giannis looks against these Bulls.

Prediction: The success of the Bulls season was a welcomed surprise and it honestly put a smile on my face to see all of the recognition that Derozan got this year but Bulls are out of their element here. Bucks in 5.

4) Philadelphia 76ers Vs. 5) Toronto Raptors

Tale of the Tape: It’s been widely speculated that the 76ers have been trying to stay away from the top two seeds as they wanted to avoid playing the Nets in a series. They should have been trying to avoid the Raptors as they’re best equipped to upset Philadelphia. It doesn’t help that it feels as though James Harden is on the down swing. The explosiveness is not there anymore, neither is his ability to beat anyone off of the dribble. He’s settling for three pointers, which has been his bread and butter but he’s not able to get the same separation from his jab steps due to his lack of quickness.

Key Matchup: James Harden Vs. Toronto’s Length

Joel Embiid will be dominant and will get his numbers, but I will be very curious to see how Harden handles the length of the Raptors. Toronto’s President of Basketball Operations, Masai Ujiri, built a roster filled with forwards with long wingspans in a gamble that long, tall, and athletic wings make for winning rosters. Harden is generally bothered by lengthy forwards as they limit his ability to get to the rim and draw calls.

Prediction: I’m expecting this to be a close series and I continue to go back and forth on who I believe will ultimately win here. The length and athleticism of the Raptors will be too much for Philly, with the Raptors winning in 7.

1) Miami Heat Vs. 8) Atlanta Hawks

Take of the Tape: The Hawks are bad defensively, like really, REALLY bad defensively. Blown rotations, guards dying on screens, and no one being able to defend the point of attack is normal for the Hawks. They live and die by wether or not Trae Young is hitting his shots and is able to find open teammates. Effort from the defensive end will tell the story on if Atlanta can make this a series.

Key Matchup: Trae Young Vs. Tyler Herro

Atlanta isn’t winning this series but I look forward to watching these two young and confident guards break down defenders and hit open threes. Miami moves at a slow pace and with their defense I don’t expect Atlanta to light it up as they usually do. My hope is that Young and Herro is emboldened to lead and jack up shots so that this is a semi-fun series .

Prediction: Atlanta doesn’t have a chance here. I’m giving them one game here due to Young’s ability to will his team victory’s. Atlanta’s defense is just terrible. Miami in 5.

April 16, 2022
NBA Play-In Preview: Eastern Conference

Brooklyn vs. Cleveland

The first game on Tuesday should be an interesting one as the offensive powerhouse Nets will be playing a top 5 defense in the Cavaliers. Momentum has not been on the Cavs side lately as they have lost 8 of their last 11 games, which includes games against sub-.500 teams such as the Magic and Lakers. The loss of Jarrett Allen had a huge impact on the Cavs defense which was their bread and butter all season. A lot is riding on rookie Evan Mobley to solidify the Cavs interior defense against Irving and the Nets. I expect the Nets to win here as the Cavs have not recovered from the Allen injury.

Atlanta vs. Charlotte

Expect this game to be a high scoring one, as both Atlanta and Charlotte are high on the offensive rating but extremely low on the defensive one. The key matchup here is Trae Young vs. LaMelo Ball, two dynamic point guards with the confidence and freedom to dictate the flow of the game. I don’t think with either team will ultimately impact the playoffs as their poor defense will probably make them early first round exits, but this may be the most exciting play in game to watch as no defense will be played. Given Trae’s recent strong offensive performance, I expect Atlanta to win.

April 11, 2022
The State of the Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets 2021/2022 season has been a tumultuous one, from Kyrie Irving being unable to play home games, to Kevin Durant’s injury woes, and even to the James Harden trade demand fiasco. It almost seems that their season is being defined by everything outside of the court, but as we head into to playoffs, where do they stand now?

Offensive Juggernaut

The Nets are currently a top ten offensive team in the NBA, led by All-Stars and future Hall of Famers Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Even in a deficit, it never feels that they’re out of contention as Irving, Patty Mills, and Seth Curry are all currently shooting above 40% from 3. With so many elite shooters around him, the Nets are the most dangerous running pick and rolls with the ball in Durant’s hands. This was most evident during the infamous Sixers game, as they were able to shoot 45% from 3.

Is Steve Nash a Good Coach?

Second year coach Steve Nash has a lot to prove this year given the disappointing way the previous season ended. My expectations for him involved better plays coming out of timeouts, lineup consistency, and better usage of his timeouts. None of those expectations were met. The Nets had over 30 different starting lineups this season, with various players being removed from rotation, being added back in, and then getting removed again. The consistency is not there, and I’m not sure that Nash has any idea on who his best seven guys are, which is very important as they head into the Playoffs. Nash may very well be a savant at managing egos (ala Doc Rivers) but his on court performance has been severely lacking and I can help but wonder if the Nets are wasting their Playoff window with Nash at the helm.

Will Ben Simmons Play?

In theory, Ben Simmons is the perfect front court player to add to the Nets. A playmaking forward that can guard 1-5 is exactly who the nets need. With a bottom 10 defensive rating, Simmons would be asked to guard the best opposing player while also leading fast breaks and back cutting to the dunker’s spot. It’s such a good fit for both Simmons and the Nets that it feels too good to be true. Well, I guess it is as Simmons is currently sidelined with back pains. Will he even play for the Nets this season? Even if he does, will he become a liability, as the Nets and Simmons will have to integrate to each other’s styles. Will little playing time together, I worry about Simmons impact as we get closer and closer to the Playoffs.

March 30, 2022