Following a rough opening game for Brooklyn Nets star Ben Simmons, the talented swingman turned in a far better performance during the Nets 109-105 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.
Simmons scored just 4 points and collected 5 assists to go along with 5 rebounds before he fouled out during Wednesday’s loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, but Simmons clocked 6 points to go with 8 assists and 10 boards against the Raptors in a performance that Nets head coach Steve Nash says he was “proud” of.
“A step up for Ben,” Nash said, according to ESPN’s Nick Friedell. “From the jump he was more aggressive. He got in the paint, every time he gets in the paint he causes problems. … He’s starting to show the player he can be, and I still think he’s got a ways to go, so really proud of him. He shook off the first night, and I thought he was much more aggressive in an important game for us.”
“Just attack,” Simmons said. “Just be me. It’s easy to say, but to go and do it, it’s tough. But that’s on me. Keep pushing myself.”
“I didn’t get fouled out, which is good,” Simmons said. “Less turnovers, so just keep building.”
“He just got downhill — he just played free,” Nets superstar forward Kevin Durant said of Simmons. “He didn’t think too much. I think we’re all a little anxious to start playing, start the season last game, so we had a better start to the game. … He impacted the game as much as he could tonight. … We need that from everybody, but I think we’re all a little [more] relaxed, even the coaches.”
