NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 26: Nic Claxton #33 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts after making a basket ... [+] against the Detroit Pistons during the game at Barclays Center on January 26, 2023 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesAfter all the noise and worries at the start of the season, culminating in the firing of Steve Nash (and somehow not culminating in the trading of Kevin Durant), the Brooklyn Nets figured it out.
Where once it looked irredeemable - Durant with one foot out of the door after his explicit trade request, Kyrie Irving being talked about as possibly being waived, Ben Simmons contributing nothing of note, other key contributors showing their age - they have instead become the contender that they were always supposed to be, and one of the very best teams in the NBA over the past two months. A recent Durant-less wobble over the past few games notwithstanding, their 31-19 record is good for the provision fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, and a far cry from the worryingly limp 1-5 start they got out to.
Irving, the main cause of that worry given his off-court noise, has been a key to the turnaround. Finally putting together a lengthy stretch of good play in a Nets uniform, and putting aside all the other drama that had previously come to define his tenure with the team, he has averaged 27.3 points per game on the season, doing so in a typically unstoppable Kyrie-esque way. When he is good, he is brilliant.
So too is Durant, back to his best at age 34 and posting 29.7 points per game on a savage .673% true shooting percentage. For any player at any time, his is a historic season; for someone of his age, it is bewilderingly good.
For offence, the Nets turn mostly to those two. But for defence, they rely on their third star, Nic Claxton, who has made such a label undeniable with his play so far.
On the season to date, Claxton is averaging 13.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.7 blocks per game, shooting 74.1% from the field to do so. The blocks and shooting percentage marks both lead the league, and on their own attest to his sizeable impact on the game. Yet when taken in context alongside his overall defensive impact, they still do not document his importance to the team.
Specifically, that importance lies in Claxton's ability to defend every area of the court, and against every type of player. With experience of playing the point guard spot in his high school days, and even some in his collegiate career at Georgia - yes, really - Claxton shuffles his quick feet better than almost everyone else at his position. When combining this with his 6'11 frame and great length, he makes for a massive moving target who always seems to stay in front, no matter what match-up he is charged with.
What Claxton does as an individual is what allows the Nets to do what they do as a team. The Nets deploy an incredibly switch-heavy team defensive philosophy on all areas of the court, in part through utilising the relative agility of Durant at the 'big' forward spot, but mostly by relying on Claxton's lateral speed. He can cover ground all over, hedge out, recover, and seem to protect both the lane and the line at the same time.
Moreover, he is routinely entrusted to do it in clutch situations. The Nets want teams to go against Claxton one on one, by design, with their star isolation scoring wings. To draw the switch is usually the offence's upper hand. But Claxton's range gives him the advantage. And in also adding muscle to his frame without any noticeable loss to his lateral speed, he is also now better equipped to deal with traditional centers, as Joel Embiid just found out.
Offensively, although his shot chart is testament to the fact that allusions early in his career to potentially having some shooting range are thus far unfounded - and his poor 47% free throw stroke suggests this will not be changing any time soon - Claxton has also taken leaps forward. Averaging 15.6 points per game in January, his fluid movement, constant aerial threat, aggression on the offensive glass and ease of dunking at the rim make him an option on every trip, and added to that, he has much improved his non-dunk finishing.
Alongside with some sensible passing, transition rim-runs and screen-and-roll possessions, Claxton has found a way to make a significant impact on the offensive end while utilising minimal dribbles. He may not have made sufficient of an offensive leap to overshadow the breakout performances of Lauri Markkanen in the Most Improved Player voting, but he is again in the running. Where once so recently he was benched behind DeAndre Jordan for whatever reason, Claxton is now a lynchpin, and an irreplaceable player for one of the NBA's better teams.
On the season as a whole, the Nets rank ninth in defensive rating, and Claxton is the crux of it. His Joakim Noah-esque impact creates a team-wide defensive versatility that no one embodies better than himself, and in being incredibly efficient as a scorer on few touches, he is an excellent compliment to the two powerhouses around him. Claxton may not come away from the 2022/23 season with any individual awards to his name, but he is plenty deserving of at least one.
Mark Deeks, Contributor
https://www.forbes.com/sites/markdeeks/2023/01/31/nic-claxton-is-a-legitimate-candidate-for-nba-defensive-player-of-the-year/
By: Mark Deeks, Contributor
Title: Nic Claxton Is A Legitimate Candidate For NBA Defensive Player Of The Year
Sourced From: www.forbes.com/sites/markdeeks/2023/01/31/nic-claxton-is-a-legitimate-candidate-for-nba-defensive-player-of-the-year/
Published Date: 02-01-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a NBA "Hybrid" contract?
The NBA offers players a hybrid contract that allows them to pay higher salaries than they otherwise would be able to. The salary of these contracts is partially counted against the team's maximum salary and the rest is paid to the player directly as a bonus. This allows teams and players to have higher salaries, while still adhering to league salary restrictions. Because players can earn significantly more than they would otherwise, it gives them incentive to sign for specific teams.
What is a buyout in NBA?
A buyout in NBA refers to a contractual arrangement between a team (or player) and a team. In this agreement, the team agrees to pay part or all of the remaining contract amount the player was entitled to receive. After their buyout, players become free agents and can sign with any team in the league. It allows teams to trim salaries or alter their roster composition as needed.
What is the NBA's Bird Rights?
"Bird rights", as used in the NBA, is a rule that allows certain NBA players to be resigned by their current club for more money. This rule is named after Larry Bird (ex-Boston Celtics player), who was the first to profit from it. The rule states that a team can exceed their salary cap limit to re-sign a player if they have had that player on their roster for at least three years. Bird rights allow players to remain with the same team while receiving a higher salary than they would receive from another team.
What are the salaries of NBA players?
The NBA's average salary for the 2021-2022 seasons is $7.3million. This figure is based the maximum salary cap of $134million, which was set in this season. However, individual players' salaries can vary greatly depending on their experience and accomplishments.
Kevin Durant and LeBron Jam are two examples of superstar players. While rookies can earn as low as $898.310, they can earn as much as $40 million annually. Other veteran players may also be eligible, depending upon their years of experience, for mid-level exemption salaries. These can range from $4.76million up to $9.258million. Additionally, players may earn bonuses or other incentives from their teams based on performance or team success.
What is a trade exemption in NBA?
In the NBA, there is a trade exception that allows players to be traded away. This exception allows teams the opportunity to acquire players whose salaries exceed those of the players they have traded away, without having to make corresponding salary moves. This exception can be used by a team for multiple seasons and does not count towards their salary cap. Trade exceptions provide a way for teams not to have to trim their rosters or make changes to their roster composition. This helps to keep the teams in competition and avoid unfair advantage situations due to financial circumstances.
It keeps the league financially strong and gives teams the freedom to make moves without worrying about their finances. Trade exceptions can be used to help teams win championships and are an essential part in roster construction.
Statistics
- "NBA first-round ratings drop 27 percent, 40 percent since 2017–18". (en.wikipedia.org)
- Between 2012 and 2019, the league lost 40 to 45 percent of its viewership. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
- An estimated 800 million viewers watched the [105]2017–18 season. (en.wikipedia.org)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20 percent of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
basketball-reference.com
- Thomas Bryant Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com
- Dennis Schroder Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com
twitter.com
- Tweet / tweet
- Sam Amico on Twitter: "Timberwolves Waive PJ Dozier, CJ Elleby and AJ Lawson - Hoops Wire https://t.co/xKu1ZTuQZN" / Twitter
si.com
bleacherreport.com
How To
How do you play NBA fantasy?
NBA fantasy is an excellent way to stay connected with your favourite players and teams all season. To play in NBA fantasy, you'll need to search for a platform that allows you to draft or sites like ESPN, Yahoo Sports, and CBS Sports. Once you have signed up, you can select your NBA team by joining a league.
Once your team is set, you'll be able to track each player's stats and how they contribute to your overall score throughout the season. To achieve better results for your group, you have the option to change your team line-up at any point. To stay competitive, you will need to keep track of player transfers, injuries, suspensions and other matters as the season progresses. At the end, you can see how your team did compared with other teams in the league.
NBA fantasy allows you to enjoy the NBA season with your family and friends. It's worth a try. Good luck with building your team and may the best teams win!
