Brooklyn Nets' Ben Simmons has resumed on-court work

The long wait for the Nets' newly acquired point guard to take to the court appears to be getting closer to an end, the question is now when will we see Ben Simmons?

Ben Simmons has started on-court work

According to reports Brooklyn Nets star Ben Simmons has resumed light on-court workouts with the hope of returning to the team in time for the playoffs. The news comes just one week after it was reported that Simmons had received an epidural shot in his back to relieve pain from a herniated disk, which at the time cast serious doubt on whether he would play at all this season.

The situation surrounding Simmons has of course been back and forth with the former 76er initially expected to play in March before his back problems forced the Nets to completely abandon that plan. While there is no set date for his return, it must be said that with Simmons beginning on-court work, things are looking up for the Nets and their new point guard. "Clearly, we'd love to have Ben play for us," Nets coach Steve Nash said on Thursday. "We will hopefully get him back. At the same time, every day, we can't put our feet in the air because we don't know when or if it's going to happen."

Having Ben Simmons would help, but how much?

In any sport having your team at full strength is always the best bet. On the other hand, just how much chemistry can we expect Simmons to form with the Nets, should he return now with just five games left in the regular season? Indeed, Simmons hasn't played since June 2021, meaning he will literally be learning as he goes when/if he returns to the Nets who are still in the process of securing themselves a spot in the playoffs. With all that said, it is clear that Brooklyn could use Simmons on the defensive end as that's exactly why they traded James Harden to the 76ers for him.

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Where are the Brooklyn Nets now?

Currently in possession of the No. 8 spot with a record of 40-37, The Nets are in a critical moment with just five games left. That's to say that if they are to clinch themselves a playoff spot they will probably have to do so via the play-in tournament as they are 4.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors who are 6th in the Eastern Conference. One can imagine that with such circumstances on their plate, attempting to fit in Simmons into the team is not going to be the easiest thing to do right here and now. If, however, they can get the best out of Simmons in the short space of time that they have, expect the Nets to be a formidable opponent this post season. Of course Brooklyn was already expected to be a problem for anyone in the East with the likes of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but add a healthy Simmons to the mix and you've got the makings of potential champions.