In Brooklyn, the Nets only go as far as Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving take them. As two of the best scorers on the planet, the pair have successfully turned things around after a slow start to the season.
While Durant and Irving deserve the most credit for the turnaround in Brooklyn, others like Nic Claxton have also stepped up in significant ways to build a dominant stretch for the team.
In fact, according to Claxton himself, he deserves more credit for being among the NBA’s best defensive players this season. Here’s what he had to say about it in a recent chat with the media:
“Honestly, I feel like I’m one of the best defenders in the league. I feel like I should be in the talk for Defensive Player of the Year. I feel like I haven’t been getting the respect I deserve,” he said postgame. “We’ve been winning, my numbers are good. I’ve been protecting the rim, guarding one through five. So it’s just me being me, doing what I do, bringing that energy. And it’s great for the team.”
Nic Claxton discusses the emotions and excitement he felt after tonight’s win over Toronto. #NETSonYES pic.twitter.com/LFPp7nkTwX
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) December 17, 2022
Are The Brooklyn Nets Real Title Contenders?
Claxton has been a solid role player for the Nets, with season averages of 11.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game on 74% shooting. But is his play enough to elevate the Nets to the next level?
Even with Kyrie and Durant, there are still some serious doubts about the long-term stability of the team.
“Pretenders. They’re not beating the Bucks, the Celtics, not sure they can beat the Sixers, healthy Joel Embiid and James Harden, Maxey is going to come back at some point in time,” said FOX Sports analyst Shannon Sharpe. “Of those eight wins that have come since Nov. 27, only one of those wins have come against a team with a winning record, that was the (Portland) Trail Blazers without Damian Lillard. “You’re 28th in rebounds per game, you’re 27th in rebound differential, 25th in opponent’s offensive rebounds and you’re 29th in opponent’s 3-point shooting, which is a recipe for what? To get your doors blown off. The Bucks are a very good rebounding team. You have no chance of beating those two teams in the Eastern Conference.”
With two of the best players in the world on their roster, you have to give the Nets a chance to win against any team in the league.
As we’ve seen in the NBA lately, however, it’s hard to win without a strong supporting cast. While guys like Nic Claxton and Seth Curry have been okay enough to get you this far, if the Nets want their best chance of defeating the Bucks or Celtics, they need to keep looking for ways to make the team deeper.
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