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Ben Simmons had attempted just four free throws entering Tuesday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets at Barclays Center. All four of his attempts came in the Nets’ second game of the season against the Orlando Magic.
Simmons shot 15 total free throws last season when he was limited to just 15 games and 57 across 42 games with Brooklyn in 2022-23. He shot 287 free throws in his final season with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2020-21.
Do with those numbers as you wish.
The three-time All-Star has been shockingly passive on offense since dawning a Nets uniform. It shows up in his nightly point totals and obviously in his infrequent trips to the charity stripe.
Maybe it has something to do with his lower back injuries. Maybe they created a level of tentativeness he still has not recovered from, even though his body has returned to full strength. Now that Simmons is healthy, head coach Jordi Fernandez keeps asking him to be aggressive, drive to the rim and put pressure on opposing defenses. However, it does not appear that the 6-10 guard will return to his old aways any time soon.
When asked about Simmons’ lack of production at the free throw line, Fernandez tried to stay positive and highlighted what he does well, rather than dragging him down.
“Yeah, probably he’s very good at avoiding fouls,” Fernandez said. “I don’t know. He hasn’t shot free-throws. He’s a great playmaker; he makes us play fast. I think it was New Orleans that he had 10 assists in the first half, so if you are that good at kicking the ball ahead and finding your teammates in transition, it’s sometimes hard to find yourself dribbling into crowds.
“Like I said before, I want him to be aggressive and attempt more shots, so that’s my goal right now, to get his attempts to go up, but I’m not worried about the free-throws. It’s like one step at a time. Probably if he attempts more shots, maybe he gets fouled more, I don’t know. But I’m not going to be worried about it. Right now, what I know is when he’s on the court, we play faster in the fullcourt, and that to me is important for the group. So he makes us better.”
The Nets hosted their first home game of the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup at Barclays Center on Monday against the Charlotte Hornets. Fernandez had good things to say about Brooklyn’s unique court design and the tournament so far as a whole.
“I love it,” Fernandez said. “I love the court, and I love the Cup so we’re excited. We’re minus-2 right now as far as point differential so I’m excited because we get this one, we’re fighting for it. And that’s what you want to do. You want to stay alive.”
The Nets were 0-1 in NBA Cup play following Friday’s loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden with a minus-2 point differential, good for third place in in East Group A. Their next tournament game will be played on Friday against the Philadelphia at Wells Fargo Center. They did not advance to the knockout rounds last season despite a 3-1 record in East Group C.
“Whatever can fuel you to be more competitive, be more aggressive, to fight for something, I think it’s good,” Fernandez said. “I think our guys have done it regardless. With this tournament, and the format and the court and so and so forth. I think it makes it fun. And I think it’s fun for people watching it at home. It feels different for the players too.”
Cam Thomas missed his first game of the season on Tuesday because of lower back tightness. After entering the day listed as probable, he was later downgraded to questionable then ruled out minutes before tipoff. Second-year forward Jalen Willson got his fourth career start in Thomas’ place.
Thomas, 23, has averaged a career-best 24.6 points per game on .458/.392/.865 splits across 14 games this season.
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