Chris Broussard didn’t take Ben Simmons’ comments about the Brooklyn Nets too kindly, claiming they weren’t worried about the New Yorkers, and instead, they were looking to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. In order to play the Finals, they will probably have to go through the Nets and that could be a problem for them. Simmons said they weren’t worried about it, taking a shot at the Nets’ defense.
“We’re going for the past champs, the Lakers,” he said.
“They were the ones who won a championship, so you got to give the respect to them. Obviously, Brooklyn has a lot of talent. But at the end of the day, there’s only one ball and you gotta play defense too.”
Well, the Fox Sports analyst made sure to remind Simmons that James Harden, in two months with the Nets, has been a better point guard than he’s ever been with the Philadelphia 76ers. Broussard said that the Australian player hasn’t won anything so he wouldn’t be the right person to listen if you want to win something.
“James Harden was playing point guard better than Ben Simmons ever has. This sounds like a quote you’d make the day after the trade. I don’t need the formula of winning from Ben Simmons. He hasn’t won a thing.”
"James Harden was playing point guard better than Ben Simmons ever has. This sounds like a quote you'd make the day after the trade. I don't need the formula of winning from Ben Simmons. He hasn't won a thing."
— @Chris_Broussard on Simmons dismissing a potential rivalry w/ BKN pic.twitter.com/efQWK6m4Jm
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) April 14, 2021
The Nets are led by Harden, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving, three players that can be a nightmare for any defense. Simmons might be right taking a shot at the team’s defense but their Big 3 can do what no other team in the league can. Simmons is a very good defender and one DPOY candidate. He will have to prove himself against these Nets if they face in the postseason.
Even though Simmons doesn’t want to know any of that, there’s a rivalry growing up between the Sixers and Nets, even before they landed Durant and Kyrie in 2019. These two are seen as the favorites to play in the Eastern Conference Finals and fans are looking forward to seeing that potential matchup.
They played a very hard-fought match on Wednesday, with the Sixers winning but not comfortably. The diminished Nets put up a fight and were close to tie and win the game but the Sixers put ice on the scoreboard and got a huge win to get the 1st position in the East.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkJDFN-groQ
