The last item the free-falling Nets needed was to lose a vital contributor.
However the Nets, who’ve lost 11 of their last 14 games, will now be without backup center Day’Ron Sharpe.
He was diagnosed with a hyperextended left knee, which he suffered in the course of the team’s 134-127 loss to the Blazers on Sunday, and shall be re-evaluated in roughly two weeks.
Sharpe, whom the Nets drafted twenty ninth overall in 2021, had emerged as a robust tag-team partner with starting center Nic Claxton, giving head coach Jacque Vaughn versatility on the position and coverage for all 48 minutes.
Sharpe is averaging 7.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 16.0 minutes per game.
His rebounds and blocks are second-most amongst qualified players on the team.
For a team that has largely underperformed this season, the Nets’ rim protection has been a rare vivid spot.
They’ve allowed just 46.2 points within the paint per game, tied for the fourth-fewest within the NBA.
It hasn’t budged in the course of the recent turmoil, as they’ve allowed the fourth-fewest points within the paint per game in the course of the last 14 games as well.
“I can do some things when you’ve got Day’Ron at center in comparison with when you’ve got Nic at center,” Vaughn said before Sunday’s game and Sharpe’s injury.
Now, it’s a latest hole Vaughn, whose Nets have traveled overseas to Paris for a matchup with the Cavaliers on Thursday, may have to fill.
It likely means an uptick in Claxton’s usage, which ends up in less adaptability and skill to be unpredictable for Vaughn.
Claxton is averaging 12.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and a pair of.4 blocks in 28.1 minutes per game, but hardly plays long stretches.
Vaughn has preferred to always rotate Claxton and Sharpe after just a number of minutes with a view to keep each fresh and opponents off balance.
Can Claxton, who has an in depth injury history himself, handle more minutes? He’s made a robust case recently.
Claxton played 33:55 within the Nets’ 124-115 win over the Thunder on Friday, often staying on the court for long stretches, and played 36:15 in Sunday’s loss.
They marked the third- and fourth-highest court times for Claxton all season.
“I’m in higher shape now I believe than I used to be, especially last 12 months,” Claxton said after Friday’s win. “During the last road stretch, I used to be coping with a chilly, I wasn’t really feeling that good. Tonight I used to be just feeling more like myself and my energy was in the suitable place, the team needed it.”
The team will need it much more now.
But he can’t play your entire game. After Claxton, who may help fill the void?
Probably the most obvious option is one fans have clamored to see more of in recent weeks.
Noah Clowney, whom the Nets drafted twenty first overall in June, has been tearing it up within the G-League with the Long Island Nets.
He recorded 27 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists within the team’s win over the Maine Celtics on Monday, all career-highs.
In 19 games between the G-League Showcase and regular season, Clowney is averaging 14.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
He’s played in two NBA games for the Nets and got an prolonged run within the team’s 144-122 loss to the Bucks on Dec. 27, recording 14 points, 4 rebounds and two assists in 24:04 of motion.
The Nets were notably resting a majority of their major contributors in the sport, and were fined $100,000 because of this.
Though he’s more of a conventional power forward, Clowney is listed at 6-foot-9, similar to Sharpe.
And in that Dec. 27 loss, with Claxton resting and Sharpe replacing him within the starting lineup, Clowney filled in at center when Sharpe went to the bench.
Vaughn could also opt to only use small-ball lineups when Claxton must rest. Dorian Finney-Smith, considered one of the team’s best defenders but just 6-7, can be the more than likely to slip into the middle position.
However the Nets’ wings already struggle mightily defending opponents on the perimeter, and moving considered one of them inside against even larger opposition likely wouldn’t reap favorable results.
There’s also Harry Giles to fill in at center, but he’s played just 59 total minutes this season.
Vaughn’s team is in crisis, and now he’s without half of his biggest strength.
The last item the free-falling Nets needed was to lose a vital contributor.
However the Nets, who’ve lost 11 of their last 14 games, will now be without backup center Day’Ron Sharpe.
He was diagnosed with a hyperextended left knee, which he suffered in the course of the team’s 134-127 loss to the Blazers on Sunday, and shall be re-evaluated in roughly two weeks.
Sharpe, whom the Nets drafted twenty ninth overall in 2021, had emerged as a robust tag-team partner with starting center Nic Claxton, giving head coach Jacque Vaughn versatility on the position and coverage for all 48 minutes.
Sharpe is averaging 7.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 16.0 minutes per game.
His rebounds and blocks are second-most amongst qualified players on the team.
For a team that has largely underperformed this season, the Nets’ rim protection has been a rare vivid spot.
They’ve allowed just 46.2 points within the paint per game, tied for the fourth-fewest within the NBA.
It hasn’t budged in the course of the recent turmoil, as they’ve allowed the fourth-fewest points within the paint per game in the course of the last 14 games as well.
“I can do some things when you’ve got Day’Ron at center in comparison with when you’ve got Nic at center,” Vaughn said before Sunday’s game and Sharpe’s injury.
Now, it’s a latest hole Vaughn, whose Nets have traveled overseas to Paris for a matchup with the Cavaliers on Thursday, may have to fill.
It likely means an uptick in Claxton’s usage, which ends up in less adaptability and skill to be unpredictable for Vaughn.
Claxton is averaging 12.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and a pair of.4 blocks in 28.1 minutes per game, but hardly plays long stretches.
Vaughn has preferred to always rotate Claxton and Sharpe after just a number of minutes with a view to keep each fresh and opponents off balance.
Can Claxton, who has an in depth injury history himself, handle more minutes? He’s made a robust case recently.
Claxton played 33:55 within the Nets’ 124-115 win over the Thunder on Friday, often staying on the court for long stretches, and played 36:15 in Sunday’s loss.
They marked the third- and fourth-highest court times for Claxton all season.
“I’m in higher shape now I believe than I used to be, especially last 12 months,” Claxton said after Friday’s win. “During the last road stretch, I used to be coping with a chilly, I wasn’t really feeling that good. Tonight I used to be just feeling more like myself and my energy was in the suitable place, the team needed it.”
The team will need it much more now.
But he can’t play your entire game. After Claxton, who may help fill the void?
Probably the most obvious option is one fans have clamored to see more of in recent weeks.
Noah Clowney, whom the Nets drafted twenty first overall in June, has been tearing it up within the G-League with the Long Island Nets.
He recorded 27 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists within the team’s win over the Maine Celtics on Monday, all career-highs.
In 19 games between the G-League Showcase and regular season, Clowney is averaging 14.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
He’s played in two NBA games for the Nets and got an prolonged run within the team’s 144-122 loss to the Bucks on Dec. 27, recording 14 points, 4 rebounds and two assists in 24:04 of motion.
The Nets were notably resting a majority of their major contributors in the sport, and were fined $100,000 because of this.
Though he’s more of a conventional power forward, Clowney is listed at 6-foot-9, similar to Sharpe.
And in that Dec. 27 loss, with Claxton resting and Sharpe replacing him within the starting lineup, Clowney filled in at center when Sharpe went to the bench.
Vaughn could also opt to only use small-ball lineups when Claxton must rest. Dorian Finney-Smith, considered one of the team’s best defenders but just 6-7, can be the more than likely to slip into the middle position.
However the Nets’ wings already struggle mightily defending opponents on the perimeter, and moving considered one of them inside against even larger opposition likely wouldn’t reap favorable results.
There’s also Harry Giles to fill in at center, but he’s played just 59 total minutes this season.
Vaughn’s team is in crisis, and now he’s without half of his biggest strength.
