Nic Claxton has been relegated to coming off the bench as he builds up his conditioning.
And whereas coach Jordi Fernandez received’t say when he’ll begin the middle once more, it clearly received’t be till Claxton’s minutes restriction is eased.
A hamstring harm sidelined Claxton for the complete preseason, and the Nets efficiency workforce has put him on a strict minutes restrict by way of their first two regular-season video games.
Claxton logged simply 15:25 off the bench within the opener earlier than seeing that boosted to a strong 20:26 outing Friday in Orlando.
Granted, Claxton theoretically would possibly’ve performed extra within the opener if he hadn’t gotten ejected within the fourth quarter for an ill-advised clothesline in opposition to the Hawks. Nevertheless it does appear as if he may see his enjoying time enhance in Sunday’s dwelling opener in opposition to the Bucks.
“Now we have to guage how his physique feels. Then as soon as that occurs, then we are able to assess the subsequent step,” Fernandez stated. “My thought is, at any time when we are able to, he’s gonna relaxation. Then his physique’s gonna inform us how he’s doing. We will enhance the minutes, clearly. … We would like him to play beginning minutes, however we now have to be good with it. Well being is No. 1 for everyone, not only for Nic in minutes.”
There’s a threshold the place a coach may begin a participant and use him in shorter spurts and be artistic in his rotations.
However Fernandez sounds disinclined to place Claxton again into the lineup till he’s cleared to log starter’s minutes — a minimum of 24 minutes and probably topping 30. It’s unclear when that is likely to be.
“Clearly, you could be artistic. However should you go to starter minutes, then it’s someplace round low 30s, as a result of I feel should you do extra, well being is a matter,” Fernandez stated. “However for me, starters normally play beginning at 24 all the best way to 33-34, that vary.”
Ben Simmons has been beginning at heart by way of the preseason and the primary two losses of the common season. Backup heart Day’Ron Sharpe is out for a minimum of one other month.
The Nets have dropped their previous three dwelling openers, tying the longest such skid in workforce historical past (accomplished twice, from 1991-93 and 1987-89).
Brooklyn is within the midst of a five-game shedding skid in opposition to the Bucks, courting again to their final victory on Dec. 23, 2022.
Cam Johnson has began the season with a chilly contact, averaging 13.0 factors however taking pictures simply 36.4 p.c and 18.8 from behind the arc.
He was simply 4-for-12 total on Friday in Orlando and 2-for-10 from deep.
“[Orlando] went on a run, and it type of bought away from us,” Johnson stated. “We’ve simply bought to be higher at when issues aren’t going our manner, responding the appropriate manner.”
Cam Thomas is averaging 30.0 factors on .477/.556/.889 taking pictures splits. Most of that manufacturing (16.0 factors) has truly come simply within the fourth quarter.
