Nets' big man Nic Claxton missed 17 straight games with a non-COVID illness. But he returned when the team played the Minnesota Timberwolves last week, logging just over three minutes. He didn't get any burn in the next one, a loss to the Chicago Bulls. But surprisingly, head coach Steve Nash called upon the Georgia product for 21 key minutes in the most recent thrilling 102-99 comeback win over the Dallas Mavericks.
It was Claxton's most burn since the season opener (when he got a surprise start for Kyrie Irving) and the 22 year-old delivered.
The Nets don't always utilize a switch-everything defensive scheme. But the other Slim Reaper on the team, who is extremely agile for a big, allows them to do just that. It created some problems for the Luka Doncic led Mavs. Claxton recorded a game high +9. Doncic had 28 points with 9 assists but was just 3 of 11 from distance.
Would he like to see the Nets use more of that switch-heavy strategy?
โI mean we should,โ lobbied the former second round pick. โLike teams don't like that, especially when I get out there. They can't do nothing with me. I'm up there guarding and it just creates havoc. A lot of teams don't want to just play a 1-on-1 game and when you switching like that it causes teams to go against the grain a little bit when they trying to run different sets.โ
"I mean we should, [switch everything]," said Nic Claxton. "Teams don't like that, especially when I get out there. They can't do nothing with me. I'm up there guarding and it just creates havoc."
Claxton on his dust up with Luka, and how he wants Nets to run "55-45%" switching pic.twitter.com/tLYGP7yOMpโ DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) December 8, 2021
Claxton has clearly given this some thought, he even offered the precise percentage breakdown he believes the Nets should rely on this strategy.
โI think that's something that we should continue to mix in 55-45 so, yeah.โ
Considering he's one of very few bigs capable of allowing the Nets to run such a switch heavy scheme, it's a clever way of lobbying for more playing time for himself. But he's not wrong, the Nets could certainly utilize the tactic more.
โI think we caught 'em off guard, we started switching everything, and we made them play 1-on-1 game and a lot of teams don't really want to play that way,โ continued Claxton. โWe were able to, all five guys locked in and we were able to get stops.โ The Mavs average 104.7 points per game at home, in this one they had just 99 and merely 13 in the final frame. They shot a terrible 9 of 46 (19.6 percent) from 3.
Was the third-year pro gassed after the game, having not played much hoops due to the illness?
โI feel pretty good right now, my conditioning is something I've been working on and something I continue to work on. I felt good I was able to get in and effect the game, so I feel good I'm happy about the win.โ
At one point, things actually got a little chippy. It looked like Claxton got into Doncic's chest, and the Slovenian superstar gave a light shove back.
What happened there, was he talking trash to Luka?
โI didn't say nothing to him I don't think,โ laughed Claxton. โI just kinda got in his face and he took offense to it and gave me a little shove. You know I like that though that keep me going, that's good.โ
Doncic picks up a technical after shoving Claxton pic.twitter.com/HYn3VkSuBL
โ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ค๐ข๐ง' ๐๐๐ (@_Talkin_NBA) December 8, 2021
The return of the 6'11โ South Carolina native is a potentially big deal for this Nets team. Keep in mind that Blake Griffin is not currently in the Nets rotation and Joe Harris is recovering from ankle surgery, so they can use some help in the front court.
Blake Griffin, who has not played since Nov. 22, is the last Nets veteran on the practice floor. Joe Harris is doing bike work and Kessler Edwards and David Duke Jr. are working out on a separate court.
Griffinโs benching was due in part to his inability to hit open shots. pic.twitter.com/Im42NVxucd
โ Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) December 6, 2021
LaMarcus Aldridge, as awesome as he has been, isn't the best matchup against teams with a heliocentric superstar like a Steph Curry or a Luka. LMA only played 9 minutes when the Warriors took over Barclays Center. And clearly the Nets benefitted from Claxton's versatility in this one. Switching more often on players like Doncic tends to work out if teams have the personnel.
(Just ask Kyrie Irving about how his former Cleveland Cavaliers squad beat Curry's Warriors in the 2016 Finals with tons of switching on D).
The emergence of more athletic reserves like James Johnson, who really filled up the boxscore in this one (12 points, 4 dimes, 4 boards, 1 block, 1 steal, 2 of 3 from deep), and Claxton would be a big lift to the Nets rotation if they can prove themselves consistent.
After the game, James Harden had some fun praising Claxton. Was he impressed Claxton stepped in and delivered?
Harden and Claxton work the angle! ๐๐๐pic.twitter.com/S9AADR70MZ
โ Nets Nation (@NetsNationCP) December 8, 2021
โI mean he what 21, 22 years-old? He better be ready to go. Nah, he just gives us a different dynamic as we see,โ explained Harden. โTeams are doing a good job of just corralling because they don't have to worry about somebody getting behind them, defensively, but once Nic gets down and gets behind 'em, now the defense has to extend and now we have driving lanes, driving angles.โ
His return came just in theโฆNic of time. The Nets are still in first place at 16-8 with a winnable game in Houston next. Hopefully, they can build upon this play by their third year big. The type of hoops he wants to play becomes more important as you get deeper in the playoffs.
Follow Us
Subscribe