The Brooklyn Nets (10-9) have been playing about as expected given that most of the NBA public had the Nets as a middling team given the change in talent from last season. However, given the fact that Brooklyn has looked like a pretty good team aside from some blowouts, they still have a major issue to deal with.
On Saturday, the Nets gave an update on Ben Simmons as he recovers from the nerve impingement in his lower left back that has kept him out of action for the past 12 games. Essentially, Simmons received an epidural injection to aid in his recovery from the injury, per the team.
According to MedlinePlus, an epidural steroid injection is used only when a patient’s back pain has not improved with other methods such as medication and physical exercises. Just from that little tidbit, it seems that whatever is going with Simmons’ back is not going away through other means which could make the matter even more concerning.
In addition, the Nets said that Simmons continues to improve and that he will continue his treatment and ramping up of his basketball activity in the meantime. An update is expected in approximately two weeks from Saturday.
With that being said, the question is: where do the Nets go from here? Simmons has been dealing with back issues for the past few years and it seems that this issue is not being corrected by anything, including surgery. At this point, whatever Brooklyn can get from him moving forward appears to be the most they can ask for given the fact that it’s impossible to know when he’ll be available and at what level.
The Nets have won seven of the past 12 games and while the offense looks different with Simmons out of the lineup, Brooklyn has found a way to play winning basketball in the interim. Simmons wants to play and the Nets want Simmons to play, but Brooklyn may have to go used to not knowing when Simmons will be back on the court. When Simmons is back on the floor, the Nets may have to accept whatever he can provide given his bulky back.
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