Philadelphia 76ers: Keep an eye on Ben Simmons’ back in Orlando

The Philadelphia 76ers should proceed with caution.

Before the NBA suspended play in March, it was announced Ben Simmons would miss a significant chunk of time to deal with a back injury. He has presumably healed in the months since then, but even so, the Philadelphia 76ers should exercise proper caution.

While Simmons’ expected recovery window has long passed, the Sixers still haven’t issued a definitive statement on his health. Elton Brand expressed optimism about Simmons’ availability when the league returns — and that was a while back, I might add — but Brand was careful to leave some grey area in his comments. Philadelphia has not expressly said Simmons is 100 percent.

There are a variety of factors at work here. For months, Simmons’ access to Philadelphia’s training facilities and staff was either limited or nonexistent. Only recent have things opened up. Also, there are more important things for the NBA to focus on than up-to-the-minute injury reports on presumably healthy individuals.

With that said, one should expect Simmons to play when the season starts back up in Orlando. It’s not unreasonable to expect Simmons at 100 percent either — his recent workout posts should leave no qualms about his physical conditioning.

When the season does resume, however, it’s important to remain cognizant of Simmons’ back and his recent injury history. Backs are tricky, and it wasn’t long ago that Simmons was vomiting due to the pain. If he agitates his back again, even slightly, it could spell the end of Philadelphia’s title contention in 2020.

Simmons’ game is predicated on athleticism and physicality. He’s a boisterous downhill athlete, rampaging into the lane, attacking smaller players inside, and looking to leverage his 6-foot-10 frame whenever possible. Simmons’ game is predicated on out-muscling his opponents, and any timidity tied to his back would greatly diminish Simmons’ effectiveness.

No one truly expects Simmons to start shooting threes this season. He will continue to make his living inside the paint and in transition. In order to do so, he can’t alter his style to compensate for a wobbly back. If he needs to take the eight regular season games off, fine. If there is any lingering doubt, either from Simmons or the medical staff, the Sixers should be forthright and precautious. This all started from Philadelphia playing Simmons when he wasn’t ready.

Since he was a young AAU prospect, injuries have never been a concern for Simmons. He’s built like a freight train and he’s atypically resilient when it comes to bumps and bruises. Rarely does he miss a game when he doesn’t absolutely have to. In all likelihood, he will play when the season restarts. Still, it’s wise to dedicate some attention to how healthy he looks.