Heading into Monday’s Game 4, the odds were already stacked against Brooklyn to win the series. Down 3-0 to a young and complete Celtics team, the Nets will need nothing short of a miracle to mount a comeback in the matchup.
Now, the Nets don’t even have the return of Ben Simmons to give them hope of victory.
As reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Ben has been ruled out for the game following back soreness he experienced on Sunday.
ESPN Sources: The Nets and Ben Simmons expected he would be ready to play on Monday, but after getting on the court yesterday Simmons says he awoke with back soreness today. In the end, the team and Simmons agreed he’ll remain out for Game 4.
ESPN Sources: The Nets and Ben Simmons expected he would be ready to play on Monday, but after getting on the court yesterday Simmons says he awoke with back soreness today. In the end, the team and Simmons agreed he'll remain out for Game 4.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 24, 2022
It’s obviously a huge blow to the Nets, who could use the playmaking, ball handling, and defense he brings to the floor. Without him, it’s highly unlikely they avoid being swept by Boston.
But the news is also shocking considering where Simmons was at last week.
“Right now, the goal is to ramp him up,” said Brian Windhorst earlier this month. “By the end of the week, the goal is for Ben Simmons to get in some 5-on-5, right, and actually get pumped up, get some contact. He hasn’t done that yet. He hasn’t done that since June of 2021. That was the last time he played in a game. He has not played real NBA, 5-on-5 contact since then. He’s obviously had his open gym runs since last summer and earlier this year when he was in Philly and wasn’t playing. But he hasn’t gone out there and actually taken contact. So the goal is, let him get some contact before the end of the week. Game 3 is Friday and then Game 4 is Monday. Next Monday, a week from now. And I’m told that is the point where we would all start looking to see if Ben Simmons will play or not. The goal is for him to be back between games 4 and 6. We’ll see where this series goes.”
The young star hasn’t played since losing to Atlanta in the 2021 Eastern Semis. That series was Simmons at his absolute worst, and we all know what followed.
Since arriving in Brooklyn, his status and playing future have continued to be clouded by mystery and it has fans wondering what is going on behind the scenes.
Unfortunately, we may never get the chance to find out. Brooklyn’s next game is on Monday in TD Garden, where they will be fighting for their playoff lives.
