Nic Claxton has been relegated to coming off the bench as he builds up his conditioning.
And whereas coach Jordi Fernandez gained’t say when he’ll begin the middle once more, it clearly gained’t be till Claxton’s minutes restriction is eased.
A hamstring harm sidelined Claxton for the complete preseason, and the Nets efficiency staff has put him on a strict minutes restrict by 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 towards the Hawks. However it does appear as if he might see his enjoying time improve in Sunday’s residence opener towards the Bucks.
“Now we have to guage how his physique feels. Then as soon as that occurs, then we are able to assess the following step,” Fernandez mentioned. “My thought is, each time we are able to, he’s gonna relaxation. Then his physique’s gonna inform us how he’s doing. We will improve the minutes, clearly. … We wish him to play beginning minutes, however we have now 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 might 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 — no less than 24 minutes and presumably topping 30. It’s unclear when that is perhaps.
“Clearly, you will be artistic. However in the event you go to starter minutes, then it’s someplace round low 30s, as a result of I believe in the event you do extra, well being is a matter,” Fernandez mentioned. “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 the preseason and the primary two losses of the common season. Backup heart Day’Ron Sharpe is out for no less than one other month.
The Nets have dropped their previous three residence openers, tying the longest such skid in staff historical past (executed twice, from 1991-93 and 1987-89).
Brooklyn is within the midst of a five-game shedding skid towards 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 capturing simply 36.4 % and 18.8 from behind the arc.
He was simply 4-for-12 general on Friday in Orlando and 2-for-10 from deep.
“[Orlando] went on a run, and it type of received away from us,” Johnson mentioned. “We’ve simply received to be higher at when issues aren’t going our approach, responding the precise approach.”
Cam Thomas is averaging 30.0 factors on .477/.556/.889 capturing splits. Most of that manufacturing (16.0 factors) has truly come simply within the fourth quarter.
