Following the Nets first game of the season, a loss to the Cavaliers, the Locked on Nets guys take a look at Ben Simmons’ performance in the opener.
Is there a continued problem with how few shots Ben Simmons is taking in his time on the court? Do the problems stem solely from the Nic Claxton pairing, or is it something else?
Whatever it is, Simmons needs to figure some of this out and get to the rim more often for the Nets to truly succeed.
Plus the guys take a look at some moves made by Jacque Vaughn and post-game quotes from the coach.
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20 Comments
This is all on JV. Ben is to blame too, but its the 1st game of the season. He needs shooters around him. Claxton and him together is not the answer. Please play sharpe or giles
Why would you want a terrible shooter to take more shots?😂 That’s completely ridiculous
Bens best attribute is rim pressure. And it’s hard for him to do that if Claxton is constantly clogging the paint.
You want Ben to score more?…then get a Stretch 5!!! That’s the only solution! He’s never gonna be a shooter. GET OVER IT!
I came on ur last podcast b4 the season started I said once imma say it again we suck cause ben Simmons has no type of offense besides pass and his not back to anything his doing the same crap he was doing last year
I said it yesterday…if he’s not going to shoot he shouldn’t start.
When healthy…he’s big, strong, fast, and athletic. I don’t see why he can’t attack the basket with the same aggression that Giannis does. And he can’t shoot foul shots either.
nets are bad
Ben Simmons!? Shooting? Who would have thought this would be an issue lol
It's basically the same problems from last year. Ben Simmons won't shoot. Jacques Vaughn will not start cam Thomas for whatever reason.
Ben not fitting the team pass him on while he is fit. You put him on the bench you won't trade value.
This episode validated my earlier summer and preseason beliefs. I strongly held the view that Ben Simmons should have initially come off the bench to maintain consistency with last season's starting unit. Last season presented two key problems: Jacque Vaughn's reluctance to play Cam Thomas and subpar performance from the bench players on both ends of the court. This season, if Ben Simmons had been coming off the bench alongside Cam Thomas, Royce O'Neal, Sharpe, DSJ, and Lonnie Walker, it would likely have resulted in a significant improvement in both offensive and defensive aspects compared to last season's bench rotation.
It's evident that Jacque Vaughn hadn't initially planned for Ben Simmons to start the season, but external media pressure led him to give Simmons the starting point guard role without on-court competition. He didn't earn it. This decision had a domino effect, as Mikal Bridges, who thrives in a structured system, now struggles due to limited floor spacing caused by having two non-shooters in the starting lineup. Jacque Vaughn should have been more assertive, suggesting that Ben Simmons start on the bench with the possibility of a promotion to the starting lineup when the timing was right. Furthermore, Vaughn openly acknowledged that he didn't introduce any plays for Mikal Bridges from the preseason into the regular season, and this is evident in Bridges' on-court performance so far. These are not micro issues they are macro issues. Failing to plan is planning to fail.
Ben won't shoot the ball. He scores in certain situations. Nets fans have to realize this. After watching his pro career, he would be a ok point forward.
It's not even the shot attempts for me, it's the threat of the shot attempt. He needs to at least convince the defense that they just can't leave him alone, otherwise, there is no threat and defenses won't sag off the shooters, which means when he does inevitably pass the ball to them, they won't get as clean of a look compared to if he drove aggresively to the basket, drew defenders in, and THEN passed the ball to the shooter
Maybe he could make an all star mascot
Ben has to drive to the basket like he did in the preseason. Lonnie walker, Giles and Watford have to start playing
1:28 – No!
Issues < PROBLEMS.
Ben's inability to shoot is still an issue. His refusal to play aggressively, particularly on offense, is… an issue.
So Jacque Vaughn decides to make our passive 6'10" Small-Forward, who can't shoot and won't look to score, play Point-Guard. That's not a problem.
The problem is that Vaughn has yet to develop a sufficient offense that accounts for two "non-shooters."
I bet Rick Carlisle would figure it out if he played for IND with Myles Turner and Obi Toppin.
Oh, wait… their GM, Chad Buchanan, assembled front-court players with the ability to shoot!
So what's the problem?! 🤔
S__n M___s
Fill in the blanks
In today's NBA you have to find a way to put the ball in the basket to stay on the floor. When players in the NBA are open they take the shot. Ben Simmons is not taking a perimeter shot even if he's the only player on the floor.
IF JACQUE VAUGHN KEEPS BENCHING SIMMONS UNDER 2 MINUTES DESTROYING HIS CONFIDENCE IM DONE….WATCHING THIS BAD COACH DO THINGS LIKE THIS IS ENFURIATING!
HES OUR BEST DEFENDER AND PASSER. LET THE MAN MISS AT THE FOUL LINE SO HE CAN GET OVER THE HUMP. YOU WOULDNT TAKE OUT BEN WALLACE OR SHAQ BACK IN THE DAY IT MAKES NO SENSE!!!
We need a PF or C that can score/play make. If Chicago decides to blow it up I say we trade for Vucevic. Watching how much we had to give the ball to Cam Johnson to make a play late in the clock, or drive and kick late in the clock, or seeing Mikal struggle to get the ball really made my skin crawl, we need someone with some size that we can periodically run the offense through
When Ben Simmons is doing vlogs about his swanky water front condo but still too shook to take shots under the rim, I can't tell if he's Scarecrow, Tin Man or the cowardly Lion😂
Idk but he definitely has enough money to go see Dr. OZ… Count me out of the Simmons pity party
Simmons need to be on the floor in crunch time especially this early in the szn hope that doesn’t happen again
Haha so glad he ain’t in Philly anymore.