[Saba Sports News] With Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving no longer leading the Brooklyn Nets, the team has had to redefine its offensive strategy, focusing on Ben Simmons’ exceptional skills in transition play. However, Simmons’ recent hip injury has significantly hampered Brooklyn’s offensive approach, evident in their drop to the NBA’s lowest offensive rating in the past three games.
Head coach Jacque Vaughn emphasized the team’s reliance on playing with pace, leveraging Simmons’ dynamic energy and pace-setting ability. “Ben gives us an energy, a pace… We miss it, we need it, it’s a part of who we are,” Vaughn stated, acknowledging the challenge in maintaining offensive momentum without Simmons.
Before Simmons’ injury, the Nets had the league’s seventh-best offensive rating, largely due to his ability to lead fast breaks. With him, they were second in fast-break points, averaging 20.6 per game, a stark contrast to their current 22nd ranking with only 12.7 points in his absence. This situation has left the Nets seeking solutions to compensate for Simmons’ crucial role in their offense.