In the low-stress environment of NBA training camp and preseason games, it’s all puppies and rainbows in Brooklyn. Ben Simmons is picking his spots and being aggressive, Kyrie Irving‘s handles are still mind-blowing, Kevin Durant is Kevin Durant, and there’s no tension about whether Royce O’Neal or Joe Harris should start.
Durant was asked about those training camp vibes and gave an answer that sums up this Nets season perfectly (via Brian Lewis of the New York Post).
It’s the question everyone has about the Nets — what happens when adversity hits? Although this roster has the talent to contend, does it have the mental toughness?
That is particularly true of Ben Simmons, who previously seemed to wilt under playoff pressure. Durant also talked about Simmons and building up his confidence, via Nick Friedell of ESPN.
Simmons has been aggressive, but it’s preseason (and the Nets are 0-2). Puppies and rainbows. We’re waiting for things to get real.
https://play.acast.com/s/63464092220b6e001182ed9d
https://play.acast.com/s/63464165f5775f00110ea8bf
https://healingxchange.ning.com/photo/albums/kevin-durant
https://play.acast.com/s/6346432ea23fcd0012ce0b6b
https://play.acast.com/s/63464380e59de0001240622e
http://beterhbo.ning.com/photo/albums/kevin-durant
https://play.acast.com/s/6346445f487be80012fe28ee
https://play.acast.com/s/63464510f511a80012c24b0d
http://zacriley.ning.com/photo/albums/kevin-durant
https://play.acast.com/s/634645d9487be80012fe2a9d
https://play.acast.com/s/63464667f5775f00110eaf94
http://allabouturanch.com/photo/albums/kevin-durant
https://play.acast.com/s/634647ebf511a80012c24ef5
https://play.acast.com/s/63464893540f8100129f60c4
https://mcspartners.ning.com/photo/albums/kevin-durant
https://play.acast.com/s/63464ceef511a80012c255b9
https://play.acast.com/s/63466863a23fcd0012ce3f32
https://www.onfeetnation.com/photo/albums/kevin-durant
https://play.acast.com/s/634668fcf511a80012c27dae
https://play.acast.com/s/63466a5884830f0012f80aa1
http://playit4ward-sanantonio.ning.com/photo/albums/kevin-durant
https://play.acast.com/s/63466af038763e001219c398
https://play.acast.com/s/63466c23f511a80012c282c4
‘Who gives a s*** if you make it or miss it?’ Kevin Durant’s message to Ben Simmons on aggressiveness
Ben Simmons took just three shots in the Brooklyn Nets’ 109-80 preseason loss to the Miami Heat last week. The three-time All-Star struggled to find his rhythm for a shorthanded Nets squad in his second appearance following a 470-day layoff.
Simmons’ passivity in 25 minutes of action was glaring. The former number one pick has shown little assertiveness in attacking the rim or generating contact offensively through the Nets’ first two preseason games. This was expected to an extent as Simmons gets re-acclimated to NBA play. The process is more than just mental for the 26-year-old as he is coming off back surgery this offseason. Head Coach Steve Nash said the team will need to be patient and supportive of Simmons through the process.
“The number one thing is to support him and be there for him, give him belief,” Nash said. We all believe in him. We all think that he’ll make a huge impact. Just gotta give him time. We gotta be patient with him, we hope it comes quickly, but in the event that it doesn’t we just gotta work through and stay patient and give him that confidence because it’s not easy, you know I can’t reiterate that enough.”
“You have to understand he’s gone through a lot,” he continued. “This is a year and a half since he’s played and not to mention the surgery, so that is no small thing. I think not just for a basketball player but for any athlete to come off that much of a layoff from the actual games is very difficult.”
https://webhitlist.com/photo/albums/kevin-durant
https://play.acast.com/s/63466ce03581360011ed8723
https://play.acast.com/s/63466dc9869e2900126c396a
https://caribbeanfever.com/photo/albums/kevin-durant
https://play.acast.com/s/63466e5738763e001219c812
https://play.acast.com/s/63466f267583ef0011905c00
https://peacepink.ning.com/photo/kevin-durant-quote-sums-up-vibes-around-nets-perfectly
https://play.acast.com/s/63466faf38763e001219c9a7
https://play.acast.com/s/634670d2e59de0001240a0fa
http://ptits.net/boards/t/96235/kevin-durant-quote-sums-up-vibes-around-nets-perfectly.aspx
https://play.acast.com/s/63467156f511a80012c28970
https://play.acast.com/s/6346725ef340d600126ab9ab
https://kukooo.com/kevin-durant-quote-sums-up-vibes-around-nets-perfectly/
https://play.acast.com/s/634672f68f0d4900116b06f7
https://play.acast.com/s/634673c8869e2900126c40c1
https://www.techrum.vn/threads/kevin-durant-quote-sums-up-vibes-around-nets-perfectly.663447/
https://play.acast.com/s/63467456e59de0001240a51f
https://play.acast.com/s/634675f438763e001219d1e0
https://www.rw-forum.com/topic/425281-kevin-durant-quote-sums-up-vibes-around-nets-perfectly/
https://play.acast.com/s/6346767ff340d600126abf68
https://play.acast.com/s/6346787210bd3400124e4eef
https://www.dancehalldatabase.com/forum/Dancehall-Reggae/Kevin-Durant-quote-sums-up-vibes-around-Nets-perfectly/fe9de7041388eb8ed9ed759a00b3809c/38784
https://play.acast.com/s/6346790084830f0012f81e1a
Despite this, questions surrounding Simmons’ mentality will ramp up if his passive approach continues during the opening weeks of the regular season. Simmons’ ability to create for others has been the constant talking point when assessing his fit in Brooklyn. Playing alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving does present less of a need for scoring. But, Nash was firm Wednesday when speaking about the mindset Simmons must bring to the court.
“Ben’s gotta be aggressive,” Nash said. “That’s where playmaking comes from. If you’re not aggressive, playmaking becomes hard. If you’re trying to put pressure on the rim, that’s when playmaking becomes easy. Getting him back to that burst, that athleticism, that ability to just out-physical people, that’s a huge component of his playmaking.”
“He’s not just gonna come down and put his back to people and zip balls around the gym,” he continued. “He’s gotta break the paint and make plays, whether it’s in transition or in the halfcourt.”
Ben Simmons acknowledged the need for him to be more assertive postgame Thursday, saying there “needs to be more of a balance” between his passing and shooting and “three shots definitely is not enough”. Durant carried the offensive load against Miami, scoring 22 points on 8/12 shooting. When asked how he can help Simmons build his offensive confidence, Durant said he emphasizes an aggressive approach to Simmons, something his teammates do across the board.
“Just trust in him, pass him the ball when he’s open, tell him to be aggressive,” Durant said. “I mean, I don’t do too much. Like I said, I’m not here to be babysitting anybody. Ben knows that if he’s got a time to be aggressive, go be aggressive. Who gives a sh*t if you make it or miss it? We just like you being aggressive, and he tells me the same thing.”