It has been said before but this next season will be very pivotal for the legacy of Ben Simmons of the Brooklyn Nets.

When Simmons was traded to the Nets in 2022, everyone was wondering if he would look like the former number-one overall draft pick and three-time All-Star he is.

Unfortunately, he never once reached the heights of his previous seasons and was often injured and never playing with the grit and skill fans expected.

This last season ended with a whimper as Simmons was sidelined with yet another injury.

But he is apparently looking better and ready to play again.

Simmons posted images of himself in the gym on social media and he definitely seems to be physically healthy and engaged.

Ben Simmons back in the lab

(via @BenSimmons25/ IG) pic.twitter.com/mEAA3XAcz3

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) June 6, 2023

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His engagement is a subject of much speculation for fans of the team.

Ever since coming to Brooklyn, Simmons’ head hasn’t been in the game.

He has made simple mistakes, fouled out multiple times, and hasn’t trusted his abilities.

This has led to him being something of a non-issue for competitors and he averaged just 6.9 points and 6.3 rebounds a game.

That is shockingly lower than his final season with the Philadelphia 76ers when he produced 14.3 points and 7.2 rebounds a game.

Something has been going on with Simmons, both mentally and physically.

While it is good to see him looking physically stronger, has he also done the work to improve his mentality?

Will he be ready to fight hard when 2023-24 kicks off?

If not, many people will forever lose faith in Simmons and he will be lucky if any team is willing to sign him.

The post Ben Simmons Posts Promising Progress Pictures Online appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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There has been a lot of talk about Dillon Brooks of the Memphis Grizzlies lately.

The star player has been in hot water repeatedly for public comments he made, mostly about the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James.

Those words, matched with his team’s poor performance in the playoffs, have put a dark cloud over his head.

But J.B. Bickerstaff has nothing but good things to say about Brooks.

Bickerstaff, who currently coaches the Cleveland Cavaliers, was leading the Grizzlies a few years ago.

He likes a lot of what he saw in Brooks.

“One of the things that made Dillon who he was, was the chip that he had on his shoulder,” Bickerstaff said about Brooks on FanDuel TV.

“One of the things that made Dillon who he was, was the chip that he had on his shoulder” #Cavs head coach J. B. Bickerstaff on what it was like coaching Dillon Brooks in Memphis #RunItBack with @ShamsCharania @MichelleDBeadle @ChandlerParsons & @bansky pic.twitter.com/bKTs9W3kSZ

— FanDuel TV (@FanDuelTV) June 6, 2023

Brooks definitely has a chip on his shoulder.

It doesn’t matter who he is playing against, Brooks will size them up, attempt to intimidate them, and not back down.

Partly because of that, he was known as one of the team’s best defenders for much of the season.

His defensive skill led to him being part of the 2022-23 All-Defensive team.

However, he hit a rough patch when the Grizzlies needed him most.

He still had that chip on his shoulder but he was only producing 10.5 points and 3 rebounds a game during the opening round against the Lakers.

Brooks was tasked with the job of limiting LeBron James and he didn’t do very well.

The Grizzlies have allegedly told Brooks that they are not going to re-sign him this summer.

That means he will have to bring his brand of attitude elsewhere.

Which team will want to work with the in-your-face, combative personality that Brooks brings?

The post NBA Coach Praises Controversial Memphis Grizzlies Star appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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It’s really hard for MLB hitters to differentiate balls from strikes, especially with rising 100-mph fastballs, 102-mph turbo sinkers, and knee-buckling 80-mph curveballs.

Pitchers are definitely nastier these days, and that makes the job of a hitter much more difficult.

Taking a ball at the edge of the zone is not as easy as it sounds.

That’s why umpire mistakes are so costly for hitters: if batters are good enough to refrain themselves from swinging at a pitch near the edge of the zone, they expect umpires to call it as it is: a ball.

When this pitch is called a strike, it can be really frustrating: just ask Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki.

“Seiya Suzuki’s plate discipline is a strength, but he’s been burned by called strikes outside the zone, including two pitches tonight that ended in strikeout. Since he debuted last year for Cubs, Suzuki is tied for 2nd highest Pitch% of called strikes outside the zone in MLB,” Cubs insider Meghan Montemurro tweeted.

Seiya Suzuki's plate discipline is a strength, but he's been burned by called strikes outside the zone, including two pitches tonight that ended in strikeout.

Since he debuted last year for Cubs, Suzuki is tied for 2nd highest Pitch% of called strikes outside the zone in MLB: pic.twitter.com/1fRBtC3G96

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— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) June 6, 2023

Some of the pitches shown in that graph are comically out of the zone, not even near it.

The difference that a call can make in an at-bat is considerable, so it’s fair to say that umpires have had an impact on Suzuki’s overall offensive output.

This year, Suzuki is still trying to replicate the form that made him such a huge star in Japan.

He is slashing .267/.358/.442 with a .800 OPS and six home runs in 190 plate appearances.

He is good enough to expect more homers as the season advanced.

Hopefully, he receives fair treatment from umpires from this point on.

The post Seiya Suzuki Is Facing A Frustrating Challenge In MLB appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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