Nets’ Nic Claxton aiming for opening evening damage return

Brooklyn Nets heart Nic Claxton is concentrating on the workforce’s common season opener for his return from a hamstring damage. Claxton missed Brooklyn’s first preseason recreation in opposition to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday resulting from hamstring soreness. Head coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned on Thursday that the fifth-year huge man is working by his restoration course of, and the workforce is uncertain whether or not he’ll seem of their three remaining preseason video games.

Claxton, the Nets’ longest-tenured participant, has emerged as one of many NBA’s high defenders during the last two seasons. He ranks fourth in shares (steals + blocks) throughout that span, behind solely Anthony Davis, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brook Lopez. Claxton signed a four-year, $97 million extension with Brooklyn this summer season and will likely be a focus of their scheme on each ends of the ground.

Who can the Nets use at heart with out Nic Claxton and Day’Ron Shapre?

Nets backup heart Day’Ron Sharpe can be coping with a hamstring damage and will likely be out for at the least six weeks. With Claxton and Sharpe sidelined, Fernandez began Ben Simmons in a point-center function in opposition to the Clippers. The three-time All-Star has been most profitable with the Nets in five-out lineups surrounded by shooters, permitting him to behave as a ball-handler in transition however a screener and curler within the halfcourt.

Tuesday’s preseason opener was Simmons’ first recreation in over seven months after he underwent again surgical procedure in Could. The previous No. 1 choose posted two factors, two rebounds and three assists on 1-of-5 capturing in 13 minutes.

Noah Clowney performed heart with Brooklyn’s second unit, posting three factors, three rebounds and three assists on 1-of-4 capturing in quarter-hour. Whereas the 2023 first-round choose initiatives as an influence ahead long-term, he performed heart within the G-League throughout his rookie marketing campaign, averaging 15.6 factors, 8.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks on 52 % capturing over 34 appearances.

With Sharpe sidelined, Simmons and Claxton are Fernandez’s high choices to fill backup heart minutes behind Claxton early this season.

“Noah might help us there together with his dimension. He did a great job [on Tuesday]. And Ben, as you guys know, he’s an enormous level guard,” Fernandez mentioned. “Defensively, he can play in [pick-and-rol] protection. He can change, he rebounds, he runs. It was fairly good to see that he may rebound and go from finish to finish so quick and we nonetheless obtained to get used to enjoying with him… So these are the teams that we have now proper now, and we’re gonna hold taking a look at them.”

The Nets open the common season on the highway in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 23.