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When the season started, Brooklyn Nets followers had unusually excessive hopes for Nic Claxton, the previous second-round choose in 2019. When the motion first kicked off, it was Claxton who Nets head coach Steve Nash tapped to start out instead of Kyrie Irving. The 6’11” huge out of Georgia drew begins within the first three video games of the 12 months. However after showing in simply 4 video games, he was dominated out with a non-COVID sickness which has sidelined the 22-year-old ever since. Now he’s set for a return.
Listed below are 3 methods Nic Claxton’s return might enhance the Nets rotation
3) The Nets want all the assistance they’ll get nowadays
There’s apparently no end in sight to Kyrie Irving’s absence. With sharpshooter Joe Harris out for a minimum of a month following ankle surgical procedure, the Nets are down our bodies. Paul Millsap has missed time for private causes. Bruce Brown just lately handled a hamstring damage. It hasn’t all the time been easy, however they’ve cobbled collectively sufficient wins to remain in first place by means of 21 video games.
The Nets have been capable of depend on LaMarcus Aldridge, and really just lately, James Johnson too. The previous member of the Miami Warmth drained two clutch freebies in a giant win over the New York Knicks just lately.
So even earlier than we get into the issues Claxton is nice at, his mere presence might be welcome to a staff in quest of assist anywhere they’ll discover it.
With Kevin Durant and James Harden logging huge minutes and main scoring burdens recently, something which could assist the staff’s bench ought to present much-needed reduction.
Nic Claxton is again tonight after lacking over a month with a non-COVID sickness. Right here he’s getting pregame work in. pic.twitter.com/aHvfBiM9qG
— Alex Schiffer (@Alex__Schiffer) December 3, 2021
2) Blake Griffin is out of the rotation now
We alluded to Millsap, Harris, and Brown however one key holdover from a season in the past who deserves his personal part right here is the previous Los Angeles Clippers and Detroit Pistons star Blake Griffin. Griffin was just lately advised he can be out of the Nets rotation. He was capturing a ghastly 31.8 % from the sphere and 16 % from downtown earlier than being benched to make room for gamers like LMA, DeAndre’ Bembry, James Johnson, and others.
For extra on this, we debated whether or not or not Blake Griffin is washed on our debut “Nothing but Nets” podcast.
However there are usually not a ton of dependable bigs on this staff. Claxton has been out for weeks, so will want time to extend his conditioning slowly. However in idea, his return may very well be essential with an extended slog of a regular-season winter forward.
Griffin was getting about 20 minutes each sport when Claxton was final accessible. However with out BG within the fold, coach Nash could flip to one of many bounciest members of his rotation for a spark.
Good morning Nets world, Nic Claxton performs basketball at this time 😈pic.twitter.com/Qz5qbfLHF6
— DJ ⚫️⚪️ (@kingdj_5297) December 3, 2021
1) Nic Claxton has some abilities that this staff desperately wants
The Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves will enter their head-to-head tied for seventh total in defensive ranking (105.5). Each groups signify two main surprises within the high ten of that class. However Brooklyn doesn’t profile as an elite defensive staff given their personnel. As terrific as Aldridge has been, he solely logged 9 minutes when the Golden State Warriors got here to city. Aldridge is healthier suited to drop protection, so the staff might actually use a giant who’s a bit extra comfy enjoying removed from the basket defensively for sure forms of matchups.
The South Carolina native has the size and the agility to change on some pick-and-rolls. He can do issues out on the wing that the 36-year-old Aldridge can’t do at this stage of his profession.
Claxton can be one of many Nets’ greatest help-defenders on the rim, deterring pictures together with his potential to leap, land, then get off the bottom once more in a rush. He has size and a knack for contesting pictures even after they’ve left a shooter’s fingers.
And we all know James Harden goes to search for him on the lob after a pick-and-roll menace. That’s one thing the lineup has actually missed in Claxton’s absence.
Nic Claxton could play basketball tonight for the primary time in over a month.
He brings this staff:
A lob menace (for James Harden)
Very versatile defender
Nice size and dimensionpic.twitter.com/9QnQHVQ7Yu— Brooklyn Netcast (@BrooklynNetcast) December 3, 2021
“Our rotations are fairly stable proper now,” defined Steve Nash, referencing his first place (15-6) staff. “So it’s not like he’s coming again to play 25 minutes an evening, however we need to give him alternatives to develop and show his health that he’s as much as adapting again to the sport after which fear about his efficiency as we go right here. However immediately we need to give him an opportunity to get again within the lineups and get some minutes.”
You’ll be able to learn between the traces that Claxton is not going to be a serious rotation participant in his first video games again for the Nets. He could not even seem in each of the pending back-to-back. However it does sound like they’ve hopes that when he’s again in form, he’ll resume being an integral member of what they hope is a championship-caliber rotation.
“We all know he has potential,” stated Nash. “And has a novel profile to our staff, so his growth is essential but in addition I feel that his potential provides one thing to our roster.”
A protection that has to fret about Kevin Durant and James Harden, in addition to sharpshooters like Patty Mills, Joe Harris and LaMarcus Aldridge already has its arms full. But when they’ll return to the lineup a giant who can roll and end on the rim on offense, then change out on the wing or block a shot on the opposite finish would possibly assist take them to a stage they’ve but to succeed in.
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