Andrew Bogut: Why I have big concerns over Ben Simmons’ star-studded Brooklyn Nets in NBA finals

Sorry Patty and Ben. They have the best scorer in basketball and another dynamic offensive threat, but don’t expect the star-studded Nets to win the NBA championship, writes Andrew Bogut.

The star-studded Brooklyn Nets won’t win the NBA championship and I can’t see Ben Simmons making a difference if he returns from his back injury.

I’ve had serious back problems before and they can be debilitating at the best of times.

If it’s an ankle or a knee injury you can shoot it up with pain meds and get through, but with a back it is a whole different story. Ben’s whole game is about explosiveness and power, which a bad back severely hinders.

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Don’t expect either Mills or Simmons to win the NBA this year, says Andrew Bogut.

Someone like a Steph Curry, or a knock down shooter like Devin Booker, could return at 70 per cent with a back issue because of the way they can shoot the ball, meaning they don’t have to solely rely on athleticism.

Would Simmons coming back to play through major back issues help Brooklyn that much anyway?

My bigger concern for the Nets is that they haven’t played together enough and that is going to be their issue in the playoffs. Chemistry is important. Knowing your teammates strengths, and, for the matter, weaknesses build throughout a long regular season.

They have the best scorer in basketball in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving brings what he brings on the offensive end, but what are they about? What’s their identity? Culture? Staple?

How are they winning games?

I’ll tell you. As of today, its sheer talent, and having arguably one of the best scorers to every play the game in KD.

On top of that, our Australian icon, Patty Mills, has had a horror run the last few months since the Harden and Simmons trade.

Patty had a huge four months to start the NBA season, taking advantage of the absence of Irving along with other line-up issues, but Patty’s play has been a consequence of the trade.

Can Durant and Irving lead the Nets to the NBA championship?

Seth Curry has been taking much of Patty Mills’ court time.

His role and minutes are all over the place and his form as such has dwindled since the All-Star break.

Seth Curry has taken the bulk of Patty’s minutes and seems to have fit in very well in his new home.

Patty’s consistency the last five or six years has been elite, and I believe even he would tell you the last few months have been poor when compared to those good times.

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The Nets will use their talent to get out of the play-in tournament, but I can’t see them going deep in the playoffs. KD will carry them, but do they have enough to beat the elite teams in the east?

Another team I have doubts over are Simmons’ former team, the Philadelphia 76ers.

I’m not high on their championship chances despite picking up James Harden.

The 76ers have improved on paper, but I don’t like the way they play, and I believe the free-throws are going to dry up in the playoffs.

Andrew Bogut is not a fan of the way the Philadelphia 76ers play.

I had this discussion on my podcast that the point of emphasis from the NBA in the pre-season was cutting out the milking shenanigans that Joel Embiid and Harden do to get to the free-throw line.

I feel like the officials did a really excellent job of it, but from the All-Star break on it has gone back to normal.

I’ve looked at the numbers and Philly’s trips to the free-throw line have gone higher than it has in previous seasons. Yes, a factor is acquiring James Harden post the All-Star break, but you can help but notice that Harden and Embiid often shoot more free throws then the opposing team, combined.

That is the way Philly plays – it is an ugly style of basketball in my opinion.

Philly have improved talent wise with the addition of Harden, but I don’t think they will win the championship.

The Eastern Conference is loaded, but I think defending NBA champions Milwaukee are the favourites, especially with the way that Giannis Antetokounmpo is playing.

Miami will finish first in the East, but they still have to prove that they can get back to the finals like their NBA bubble season.

Giannis is still the main man in the NBA.

I can see Milwaukee and the Heat playing off in the Eastern Conference Finals and the Bucks going through. As we know, the seeds could change with a handful of games left and at time of writing.

Over in the West, I love how the Phoenix Suns have continued to get better throughout the season.

The Suns are my favourites to win the championship, barring any injuries.

A couple of weeks ago I was on the fence about Phoenix following star guard Chris Paul’s injury, but now he is back, the Suns are primed to win.

They have talented players; they know their roles and their role players, like Mikal Bridges, are elite defenders.

Deandre Ayton is a strong defender as a big man, Paul is smart, and even Booker has got better defensively.

I really like the Suns and I believe they can make up for last year’s loss in the Finals against the Bucks and win this year.

Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns will be hard to beat.

I also can’t rule out my old team, the Golden State Warriors, in the West, but it will all come down to Steph Curry’s fitness after his ankle injury.

Steph has had numerous ankle issues before, let’s just hope he is back out there ASAP.

Golden State rosters in the past could win a series without Steph, but this year’s squad isn’t as deep.

six treys & 23 points at the half for @KlayThompsonpic.twitter.com/MpqfqdouM6

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 8, 2022

That puts more pressure on Klay Thompson, and he is still finding his best after coming back from his knee injury.

Thompson is the Warriors main scoring threat out there. Andrew Wiggins, the Warriors other All-Star alongside Curry, hasn’t had a great run of form since the All-Star break.

With Curry back, the Warriors could sneak into the Western Conference Finals, but it won’t be easy and for mine Phoenix are the team to beat.

Originally published as Andrew Bogut: Why I have big concerns over Ben Simmons’ star-studded Brooklyn Nets in NBA finals