Nets' deficit in big men has Nic Claxton taking on extra minutes
Nets center Nic Claxton puts up a basket against the Suns in the first half of an NBA game at Barclays Center on Wednesday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
PHILADELPHIA — Size doesn’t matter unless you’re the Nets and Nic Claxton was their only main big in the rotation against the Suns Wednesday.
With Day’Ron Sharpe hurt and Dorian Finney-Smith out this week with a sprained ankle, the Suns heavily exploited the mismatch during the Nets’ loss. The Nets were out rebounded by 15 and only eight of their 27 rebounds came with Claxton off the floor.
It’s added a greater burden on Claxton to keep himself on the floor. As a result, he’s playing more minutes than usual out of necessity.
“It’s been a challenge, but it’s been a good challenge to have,” Claxton said Friday after practice. "It’s why you put in all the work in the offseason. To be able to trust your body to play however many minutes that I need to play.”
Since Sharpe suffered a hyperextended knee on Jan. 7 against the Trail Blazers, Claxton’s averaging 34.3 minutes per game entering Saturday’s game at Philadelphia. That’s up from his season average of 29.8 and the 28.1 minutes he averaged before Sharpe’s injury.
Four of Claxton’s most minutes played in games this season have come over that stretch, including playing 39, 39 and 37 minutes in consecutive games from Jan. 23-27. The lone game he didn’t play over 30 minutes was Monday when he and Ben Simmons were subbed out for each other and never shared the court.
The Nets may have no choice extending Claxton but there’s another motive. Coach Jacque Vaughn wants him prepared to play longer minutes in the postseason when teams shrink their rotations and lean heavier on their stars.
“We can't live in that world, but in order to run a marathon, you have to get 18, 19 miles,” Vaughn said. “You just can't keep running three and six and think you're going to run a marathon. So it's kind of that realm a little bit. So we'll pick our opportunities for when we'll ramp up his minutes.”
It’s also a chance to add to his value. As a free agent after the season, Claxton will be one of the Nets’ top offseason priorities and more time on the floor means more ways to prove himself beyond just his defensive prowess.
Claxton’s averaged 12.9 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks since Jan. 7 compared to 12.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks before.
“I think he's learning how to get his second wind,” Vaughn said. “When to get a little extra rest in a timeout, from the free-throw line, but still have an impact in covering up the rim for us. So it's definitely a skill that you have to learn when you're playing more minutes.”
With Sharpe still restricted to individual workouts, it’s likely Claxton will keep up his extended time for the near future. But Simmons’ return Saturday could offer a break as Vaughn tries to stagger Simmons' and Claxton’s minutes.
At some point, though, Simmons will be ramped up enough to resume starting alongside Claxton. Sharpe doesn’t have a timetable for his return and Finney-Smith could return next week but he’s also a potential trade target ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline.
It means Claxton’s uptick in playing time could stay for the foreseeable future as the Nets need his size. He’s not complaining as he sees the advantages of staying ready and proving why his team needs him.
“I remember when I wasn’t even in the rotation,” Claxton said. “So, now that I’m being asked to play a few more minutes than normal, like I said, that’s why you put the work in [during] the offseason to be able to play however many minutes you need to play.”
Evan Barnes covers the Nets for Newsday. He previously covered Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
