Nets hope Ben Simmons can return for 'a couple' regular season games prior to playoffs, per report

As the playoffs draw closer, there is still no firm timetable when it comes to Ben Simmons' return to game action for the Brooklyn Nets. Simmons has yet to play in a game this season, and he has been dealing with a back injury since he was acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers by Brooklyn last month, As it stands now, the Nets are holding out hope that Simmons can return for "a couple" of regular-season games before postseason play gets underway, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne.

Initially, the Nets were targeting their matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, March 18 as a potential return date for Simmons, but that has been pushed back indefinitely due to setbacks in his rehab. Simmons recently received an epidural in order to limit pain.

From ESPN:

Brooklyn Nets star Ben Simmons has remained sidelined with an irritation of the L-4 disc of the lower spine, but there's hope he can return for a "couple" of regular games prior to the Eastern Conference playoffs, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.

The Nets are hopeful that Simmons can return to play in regular season games prior to a postseason likely to begin in the play-in tournament in mid-April. The Nets play the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers in their two final regular season games on April 8 and 10, respectively, prior to the start of the play-in tournament that week.

Nets coach Steve Nash recently said that the team was confident that Simmons would indeed play during the regular season, while general manager Sean Marks added that the organization is taking the situation one day at a time.

"Although there's no real timetable, we've got to take it day by day and see how he responds," Marks said. "And hopefully sooner the better. We need to get this group together and get minutes together on the court."

Obviously, Simmons' inability to get out on the court isn't ideal for a Nets team that has championship aspirations. At this point, even if he does return for a few regular season games, Simmons won't have a real opportunity to develop any sort of chemistry with his new teammates before the playoffs start.

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have both been playing at an elite level in order to keep the Nets in the thick of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference, but ultimately they'll need help if they're going to make a deep run. Simmons is supposed to be that help, so the sooner he can get out on the floor for Brooklyn, the better.

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