Nic Claxton adopted up one double-double with a second for the primary time in his profession, and his famous person teammates instantly began pushing for an additional.
And one other. And one other.
The Nets usually are not about to let Claxton gradual up after his quick begin, which included 13 factors and 10 rebounds in a loss to the Pelicans and 19 factors and 11 rebounds in a win towards the Raptors. Greater than ever is anticipated out of Claxton, 23, after the Nets parted methods with three rotational frontcourt veterans through the offseason.
“I’m comfortable he performed nicely, we wish him to stick with it, however now as a younger participant within the league he has to point out consistency,” Kyrie Irving mentioned after beating the Raptors. “And we've got to be proper there with him.”
The Nets’ first street journey of the season presents two of the very best rebounding opponents within the league — the Grizzlies on Monday and the Bucks on Wednesday — and a check for any middle.
“I’m not right here to say, ‘OK, Nic, now you bought so as to add a step-back [jump shot] to your sport,’ ” coach Steve Nash mentioned. “I’m extra like, ‘Nic, captain us with [defensive] coverages.’ Speaking about ensuring you already know what protection we’re in, ensuring you’re low man when you must be ensuring you’re defending the rim.”
Message acquired.
“I actually need to be the anchor of the protection,” Claxton mentioned, “and be among the best defenders within the league night-in and night-out.”
Claxton was the Nets’ highest-rated defender after the All-Star break final season, and had the third-highest internet ranking to Kevin Durant and Irving.
“My first yr within the league I used to be taking part in and never considering a lot,” Claxton mentioned. “I’m simply making an attempt to get again to younger Clax.”
Claxton’s defensive rebound, full-court dribble and Euro step for a layup late within the third quarter final sport wasn’t only a viral spotlight. The trouble was a part of the impetus for Irving to boost the bar when he pulled apart Claxton and mentioned, “We’ve obtained to carry you accountable to that normal” on each ends of the ground.
“When he provides factors like that and he’s pushing in transition and doing little issues like that,” Irving mentioned, “and he’s simply bringing that power to the workforce to find a way take strain off of us and go rating, it offers us quite a lot of snug house.”
Durant arrange Claxton for a finger-roll in transition. Almost half of Claxton’s area targets final season (88 of 178) had been dunks. These are new instruments. Or are they?
“He had all of that stuff when he obtained right here,” mentioned Durant, Claxton’s four-year teammate. “It’s simply being extra assured and utilizing it. Coach trusts him, his teammates belief him, so he can go on the market and do his factor. Typically you don’t need to showcase all of your expertise early on since you don’t know the way they match in the direction of the workforce. He’s snug now, and we'd like him to be an increasing number of aggressive.”
Within the subsequent breath, Durant challenged Claxton to shoot higher than 3 of 8 on the free-throw line.
“I need to go to the free-throw line 10 plus occasions a sport,” Claxton mentioned. “I embrace the problem. I've no worry. I need to attempt to end each time I get a possibility. That’s simply who I'm as a participant.”
The sensation across the Nets is that it took Claxton — a former ball-handling guard — a number of years to develop into his 6-foot-11 physique after a late progress spurt. His growth was stalled by accidents earlier in his profession earlier than a doubtlessly game-changing offseason.
“He caught to it and he took a degree as knowledgeable,” Nash mentioned. “And so that you’re seeing that now he’s stronger, fitter. He is aware of his athleticism and exercise generally is a issue, as nicely.”
For Nash, nonetheless, it nonetheless comes again to seeing Claxton as a flexible defender.
“It’s not at all times factors and rebounds,” Nash mentioned. “I attempted to inform him, getting the primary swap down, the primary low-man and the primary ice — regardless of the protection is — that’s like a bucket, a block and a free throw. Him captaining the workforce in that approach on the defensive finish will add to his impression on the sport.”
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