NBA Rumors: Ben Simmons Could Benefit From Season Suspension

KEY POINTS

Simmons is still rehabbing his back
Added time off could help Simmons recover better
Simmons could be ready by playoffs

Ben Simmons is a key player missing from the Philadelphia 76ers. The Australian is still rehabbing his back, something that has kept him in the sidelines the past weeks. And based on recent reports, it appears that Sixers fans will just have to hope and pray that he can return in time for the NBA playoffs.

According to Sixers Insider Jon Johnson, the top pick of the 2016 NBA Draft is doing well undergoing rehab. Unfortunately, he will still be out for another three weeks and has yet to do any basketball-related activities. When asked if surgery was an option, Simmons is not discounting that option. However, he believes he is on the right track to recovery.

The struggling Sixers could use Simmons on the floor right now. Philly is currently at sixth spot with a 39-26 win-loss record in the NBA Eastern Conference. They are tied with the Indiana Pacers with similar records and both squads were supposed to clash on Mar. 14 in what could have been a key game. With the NBA suspending the season, that meeting has now been put on hold.

The Sixers are coming off a win over the Pistons but need to keep in winning to improve their positioning for the NBA playoffs. The suspension could be good news for Philly, giving Simmons and other players more time to recover from their injuries. Two players who seem ready to return are Joel Embiid and Josh Richardson Embiid did not play against the Pistons but looks ready to return. He would have played against the Pacers if the games were not put on pause.

Except for the Milwaukee Bucks, the positioning in the Eastern Conference remains unsettled. The lull could play a factor although the most important thing is to win as many games as possible. The Sixers need all the help they can get and the coronavirus issue may have inadvertently given them a bit of a reprieve. But the next question is, will the NBA play the remaining games? What if they choose the ones that are important to stay on schedule?

There are plenty of possibilities ahead for the NBA. For now, it is about the safety of everyone and resuming games at the right time. Simmons could benefit but that is still no assurance that he can return at 100 percent health once the playoffs kick off.