“Can you just give 15 minutes of guarding the Jayson Tatum’s of the world? The Jaylen Brown’s, the Jimmy Butler’s” - Tim Legler on Ben Simmons’ importance to the Nets defence
NBA and Brooklyn Nets superstar Ben Simmons' importance to his new employers is not gone under the radar as the Australian is a force on the defensive end of the floor.
On ESPN's morning show Get Up, former NBA player Tim Legler spoke about the importance of Simmons to the Nets defense, which has been struggling throughout the season. Legler said:
"I think they just need a guy who can come in and give them 15 minutes of defense more than anything else. He's going to be a complete non-factor offensively. 6'10, athletic and versatile, can you just give 15 minutes of guarding the Jayson Tatum’s of the world? The Jaylen Brown’s, the Jimmy Butler’s. Just give us 15 minutes of defense."
How important is Ben Simmons to the Nets?
The new big three of the Brooklyn Nets have the capability to beat anybody on any given day. With Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Simmons, the Nets now possess an offensive juggernaut that could drop 120 points on a nightly basis irrespective of the opposition.
Durant and Irving's ability to create shots, draw fouls, catch and shoot, coupled with Simmons' ability to run the offense, allows the team to get going at their choosing.
Another aspect of Simmons playing for the Nets is the fact that he can play the position of the center. He has the size to handle the clanging and banging required at that position, and this will enable the team to surround him with sharpshooters. That is something the Philadelphia 76ers failed to do because of the presence of Joel Embiid.
With Kyrie playing, Ben Simmons could operate as a quintessential point guard who orchestrates the offense without worrying about scoring. Irving slots in as the off guard who is focused on one thing and one thing only, which is to get buckets. This will also alleviate the scoring burden for Durant and allow him to be more efficient and effective.
The only worries as far as coach Steve Nash is concerned are team chemistry and defense. Irving isn't a great defender, and that could hurt a team that is ranked 20th in defensive rating in the NBA. But the addition of Simmons, who was arguably the best defensive player in the league last season, certainly helps.
Team chemistry is also something the big three will have to figure out by spending more time on the court. While Irving could potentially miss all of the NBA home games, Ben Simmons' return date is yet to be determined. Having to constantly chop and change the lineup could prove to be problematic for Nash and the coaching staff of the Brooklyn Nets.