Nic Claxton needs to be main the league in blocks, or Defensive Score, or one thing like that.
Not in flagrant foul factors.
The Nets paid Claxton to be the anchor of their protection, and the previous month is a reminder that he has that form of expertise.
However in Wednesday’s 129-121 loss to the Thunder — one of the best crew within the Western Convention — there he was in road garments and serving a suspension for the form of silliness Brooklyn merely can’t afford.
And Claxton is aware of it.
“We’ve had those conversations, private conversations. He held himself accountable and to a really high standard,” Nets coach Jordi Fernández stated of his speak with Claxton. “We’re going to miss him [Wednesday] night, and that’s what’s most important. We’re missing one of our players and we need him. So he already knew. It’s not that this was not new for him.”
Which is strictly the rub.
Claxton — who simply received a four-year, $97 million contract over the summer time — has been praised by Fernández as a possible Defensive Participant of the Yr.
And it’s his play on that finish recently that sparked Brooklyn to successful seven of their final 10 getting into Wednesday’s sport in opposition to the Thunder. However these flagrant fouls aren’t new.
Simply worrying.
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Claxton has accrued an unacceptable six flagrant factors this season, the most recent approaching his Flagrant 1 Foul for pushing Justin Champagnie within the again with 9:24 left in Monday’s 107-99 loss at Washington.
“We lost our composure, and we were not good with whatever happened with a flagrant and a technical and all that stuff and a foul before the ball gets inbounded,” Fernández stated. “All those things are a lack of focus, and that’s not the team we want to be.”
And whereas the play wasn’t soiled or malicious, it was clear. And avoidable. Even the opposite Nets needed to concede that was a Flagrant 1.
“As a teammate, no; but looking at the rule books, it’s kind of obvious,” Keon Johnson stated. “But that’s just part of learning and growing with the game. So after this one … we’ll get him back and we’ll just continue to learn and grow together.”
Claxton must develop from this.
His complete is tied Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart for probably the most flagrant factors within the league. Even one other Flagrant 1 would earn Claxton a one-game suspension, whereas exceeding seven flagrant factors would web him a two-game ban.
After choosing up a complete of 21 technicals within the prior two seasons, Claxton’s infractions have gotten worse. And so have the results.
The middle was ejected and fined $25,000 in December for heaving the ball into the stands in a 101-94 win over Toronto.
“I just had a mental lapse, and I just launched the ball in the crowd,” Claxton admitted on the time. “And I can’t let my emotions get to that point. I got to be there for my team.”
However he wasn’t there for his crew Wednesday.
Flagrant fouls on Oct. 23 in opposition to Atlanta, Dec. 1 vs. Orlando, and Jan. 27 in opposition to Sacramento left him no room for error.
After which on Monday got here that error.
“I don’t think it should have been a flagrant foul, personally,” stated Day’Ron Sharpe, who was left as Brooklyn’s solely large man on Wednesday. “The only reason [Champagnie] couldn’t land is because the other guy pushed [Cam Johnson] down. … He couldn’t land because CJ got pushed down. That’s probably the only reason they called a flagrant. But I don’t think it was flagrant. I do it all the time.”
That leaves him with 5 technicals, 4 flagrants and three ejections this season. And even when one means that Monday’s foul didn’t warrant a flagrant, it broaches the query of whether or not Claxton is incomes a status with the referees.
“Obviously we’re going to miss him and we’re going to miss his size as the anchor of our defense,” Fernández stated.
“We realized after the Washington game that he probably gets suspended,” Sharpe stated. “It’s a big loss for us. Nic brings a lot for us: his energy, paint defense, perimeter defense, lob threat, passing, playmaking.”
Cam Thomas, cleared for apply final week, is daily. D’Angelo Russell (proper ankle) and Noah Clowney (left ankle) will each miss the subsequent two video games, however needs to be practising subsequent week and will doubtlessly return to play, as properly.
“They both are doing great,” Fernández stated. “We’ll probably talk about having them on the court at some point next week. They’re progressing well, they’re around the group and they’ve been [helpful]. They’re great energy when we have them around. We need their presence. It’s good, because it seems like if everything goes well next week we’ll see where they’re at, and just try to keep working on that and have them get some contact and have them back on the court.”
