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MINNEAPOLIS — Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash could not assist however chuckle as Ben Simmons walked over to the bench after fouling out in simply 13 minutes throughout a 112-102 preseason win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night time.
“I stated ‘you may as nicely go straight to the bike and get some conditioning,'” Nash stated after the sport. “I do not suppose he was prepared for the joke.”
Simmons, who completed with two factors, six assists and two rebounds, was in disbelief over a number of of the calls — particularly the final one with 10:26 left within the third quarter. It was the quickest he had ever fouled out in any skilled sport, in response to ESPN Stats & Info. A number of of Simmons’ teammates laughed on the bench as he walked over, nonetheless pleading his case to anybody who would hear.
“Simply speaking to the refs, clearly adjusting to — one night time you are taking part in in opposition to the [Milwaukee] Bucks and taking part in a bodily sport and then you definitely’re taking part in the Wolves and it isn’t that bodily. So you are not capable of get away with plenty of issues however total as a crew I believe we performed nice, we moved the ball. We’re discovering our identification.”
Simmons had an extended dialog with official Nick Buchert within the first half, which at one level included teammate Kyrie Irving, because the pair ended up laughing by the top of the discuss at what they felt was a fast whistle.
“Clearly, I most likely would not be laughing if it was the common season however it’s the preseason,” Simmons stated.
“Actually, they’re getting used to seeing sure issues on the ground too,” Simmons stated. “However I do not thoughts, I would as nicely use the fouls. I obtained six of them so I am attempting to be bodily and present my presence on the market for my teammates as a result of I really feel like that is going to be an enormous accountability of mine, bringing that vitality, that physicality, and setting the tone for our crew.”
Irving stated that whereas he had seen a teammate foul out quicker earlier than when he was youthful, he had by no means seen somebody on one among his NBA groups foul out so rapidly.
“Yeah, that was the primary time [here],” Irving stated. “Nevertheless it’s preseason. He is aware of he was not essentially as locked in as he may have been, I believe among the calls may have gone both means. Nevertheless it’s a studying expertise for him and us as a crew. And we have been simply joking about it all through the sport, however clearly we needed him to get some minutes tonight so we may actually develop. We nonetheless did, however clearly we’d have appreciated to have Ben on the market.”
Regardless of the short exit, Simmons made some constructive strides over the past week and helped the Nets discover their offensive rhythm heading into Wednesday night time’s common season opener in opposition to the New Orleans Pelicans. Nash famous that he felt Simmons was “actually beginning to flip a nook the final couple video games. “After a tumultuous summer time for the group, Irving believes the Nets are heading in a constructive route going into the common season.
“I might sum it up in only a easy phrase: Affected person,” Irving stated of the preseason. “We got here in, plenty of exterior noise, needed to quiet that down, after which focus in on us exemplifying to 1 one other why we should win each single night time. It begins first internally after which within the crew surroundings.
“Simply being prepared to be uncomfortable, we have heard [Markieff Morris] say that loads of occasions. However I believe it simply goes additional than simply being uncomfortable, it is simply being prepared to be versatile, to adapt on the fly, and study issues that can assist us in the long term proper now.”
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