After the Brooklyn Nets’ 112-98 win over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, forward Markieff Morris defended teammate Ben Simmons for showing signs of improvement this season.
“Healthy,” Morris said of why the three-time All-Star is playing better. “He finally got his legs under him. It has been closed for two years. You all don’t give him a chance, you want to criticize him after every King’s game…”
A few NBA betting sites have the Nets sixth-best odds to win the championship in 2023.
Markieff Morris on why Ben Simmons recently improved his game:
“Healthy. He finally got his legs under him. He’s been locked up for two years. You all don’t give him a chance, you want to scold him after every fu***** game.
(H/t @NetsDaily) pic.twitter.com/dsZ1Pf5eSn
– NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) November 25, 2022
Simmons was held to less than 10 points through the first nine games of the season. But over his last five starts, the Nets guard is averaging 14.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks.
Last Thursday, Simmons recorded his first double-double of the season in the Nets’ 109-107 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. He finished with 15 points, 13 boards and seven assists.
But when a guy doesn’t play for two years – because of course you don’t know, because no one has played in the NBA, he had to adjust his body. “They meet every night. He’s playing 30-plus minutes. It takes time.” Morris added.
Nets forward Markieff Morris believes the media wants to criticize Ben Simmons, and refuses to give it a chance.
In Simmons’ return to Philly on Tuesday, the guard posted his second double-double of the season in the Nets’ 115-106 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. In 33 minutes, the 26-year-old collected 11 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists.
Of course, through 14 starts this season, Simmons is averaging 8.6 points, 6.5 boards, 6.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He is shooting a career-high 60.9% from the field.
The fifth-year player is posting a career-low 15.1 player efficiency rating, but is improving statistically from game to game. This is the main thing.
This clip of KD yelling at him about Ben Simmons after a backyard dunk in Portland is hilarious.
“Joe missed the shot and I looked up and Ben said, ‘Dunk the f***ing ball!’
Simon’s thinking did a complete 180. pic.twitter.com/swf4ZD6Nmv
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) November 24, 2022
While the guard is attempting just 6.2 field goals per game, there are fewer turnovers than in previous seasons. But the Nets are only using Simmons in 14.8% of their games with him on the court.
In Wednesday’s game against the Brooklyn Raptors, Simmons finished with 14 points, six assists, three steals and two blocks. Royce O’Neill had a career-high five shots from downtown.
With the LSU product, the Nets are a better team defensively. Including the win over Toronto, the team is now 9-10 and ranked 10th overall in the Eastern Conference.
On Friday, the Nets play the Indiana Pacers on the road at 8 pm ET. Sportsbooks show the Nets as 3.5-point favorites. According to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, Brooklyn has a 55.9% chance of beating the Pacers.
