Mat Issa of The Analyst and SB Nation joins the Locked on Nets podcast to talk about the growth of Nic Claxton this season and what’s becoming a truly breakout star performance. Mat wrote an excellent piece breaking down Claxton’s game on both sides of the court and what he’s meant for the Nets this season. They talk about the defensive versatility in switching and how he’s become such an important part of what the Nets do. They also talk about his offensive game and how the Nets are shaping up going forward.
Read Mat’s work at Opta Analyst
https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/12/slim-reaper-brooklyn-nets-big-man-nic-claxton-two-way-star-in-the-making/
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It's great to see nic Claxton get a review so far on his season.
Clearly he's raised the bar in increasing his defensive intensity and he has added the necessary muscle to allow his own iso skills to take off as well.
His blocking has been really effective along with his rebounding and efficient scoring.
But the consistency factor has really allowed Claxton to accel in all these areas.
Claxton has definitely made a case to be an all star and is in the conversation for defensive player of the year 🔥🔥
But also the defensive trident 🔱 of Kevin Durant Ben Simmons and nic Claxton have really found their defensive continuity together in the last month.
Right now the nets just need to use the deadline to add a center and more defense and rebounding type players.
Myles Turner John Collins and Mo Bamba have all been on Brooklyn radar and all three could help Brooklyn in different areas. Plus the buyout market will definitely play into Brooklyn finalizing their roster.
Everyone stop calling us the New Jersey Nets😂
we haven’t been that in 10 years 🫡
Anyways, great podcast guys!Keep it 🆙 ✊🏽💪🏽⚪️⚫️
He can’t guard Tatum…..
or Darius Garland
We could use porzingus on the Nets
Doug Norie the man with the plan
When Kyrie Switched And Started To Guard Gianni’s He Forced A Turnover For Nic Clayton To Get An Easy Dunk.
You Definitely Want To Give Players Like Giannis Different Looks. And Kyrie is An Underrated Defender.
I do not believe that Giannis is a better defender then clax at all. Giannis does not guard up on the best players he just block shots…Claxton does BOTH
Stop it. Claxton is nowhere near even the current 60% version of Ben Simmons when guarding the best 1-4 players (Giannis, Luka, Dame, LBJ, Kawhi, PG, Tatum to name a few) in the NBA. Clax is great but not elite. Just because he blocks at a high rate, please don’t insult legitimate DPOY level guys or first team all defensive players.
Claxton is a good defender, but Ben is the one solo marking the best players for most minutes. They literally subbed Ben on as much as possible when giannis came on, and giannis scored heaps on Claxton but not Ben solo guarding him.
Ben shutdown Mitchell it wasn’t Claxton.
Ben annoyed Poole recently so badly early on that he shot crappy the rest of the night and you could see how annoyed he was. But Ben was the cause there.
Claxton is a huge part of both being able to defend as you can’t defend in a vacuum, but it’s really silly the hype of Claxton being DPOY above simmons. Claxton should be all defensive second team at best, and the days supports it as well as you cna use it, but Ben is easily a way better defender, especially on the faster and perimeter players.
This isn’t even a close debate on who is better either too, it’s Ben by a LOT and Claxton is the 2nd best defender on the team
Interesting Podcast Doug….Thanks! I’m a big Claxton fan! The only way I would pick up another girthy big is if we could get him cheap without a trade.
WHAT DID YOU CALL FRANK KAMINSKY (great video)
I enjoy watching two smart guys speaking only basketball, no wanna be a Colin Herd today. Thank you Doug for bringing Mat to the Podcast.
Why only discuss DPOY? You don't think Clax can make defensive 2nd team or even first? I most definitely think he can.
D. Sharpe is not on point yet agree. I'd give him minutes on playoffs instead of acquiring d. Howard or Cousins. Maybe those guys don't have motivation for championship run. I rather give d. Sharpe minutes to get experience and give some to Embid or B. Lopez.
Bring Mo Bamba, case Claxton cannot contribute for some reason.
The nets haven't seen the Best of Ben yet, Simmons was the best defender on the Sixers in his last 2 years with Embiid as the centre.
90% of Sixers fans would even admit it, realistically hes been the best defender in the NBA for at least the last 2 full seasons he's played in.
This is a nice bonus to have Claxton playing so well,but I feel this narrative ain't going to age well
To me Claxton is more a Power forward that can play Centre. Just the same as Ben who is a point forward who can play Centre.
For this team to be a real contender they need a rebounding Centre who can stretch the floor.
Then you can play both Claxton and Simmons at the same time.
Why people Keep overlooking Sharpe? The way I see him play he did a great Job and he is good shooter so it fits well with this team and I feel like this is the time to sharpen him for playoff
how on earth do Claxton and Simmons play 64 minutes and only shoot 2 Free Throws? What is JB Bickerstaff doing there? Simmons has not made a Free Throw in over a month. Coaching malpractice if you aren't hacking those 2 and making KD/Kyrie potted plants on offense
Good luck playing Simmons and Claxton in the playoffs. Hack-A- Ben and Clax will return
Promote your followers to go vote for KD and Kai!!
VOTE FOR KYRIE & KD AS ALL-STAR STARTERS!!! LETS GO NEW YORK!!!
All these other podcasts are coming out of nowhere trying to break down the Nets success when a month ago thur the past 4 years they were "HATING" Only (Locked On NETS) has that right👍🏽.. Not these "Poses"👎🏽 trying to get views and we definitely don't need their flowers..