The Nets will start their preseason in opposition to the Clippers on Oct. 8 with out their most full participant.
Nic Claxton might be out as a result of hamstring soreness, head coach Jordi Fernandez introduced after Nets follow on Friday, earlier than the crew heads to San Diego for the rest of coaching camp.
The choice is for precautionary functions, and Fernandez stated he’s unaware of when the middle developed the damage.
Claxton additionally sat out of the scrimmage throughout Thursday’s follow.
“We’re not involved about it,” Fernandez stated. “We’re simply extra aiming [for] the primary sport of the season and doing what we imagine is greatest only for him to be prepared there.”
Trendon Watford and Day’Ron Sharpe each are being assessed for hamstring points.
The standing of the 2 for Tuesday’s preseason sport is just not but recognized.
“Clearly, in the present day’s an enormous restoration day after three days of working actually arduous,” Fernandez stated. “Now, we’re simply making an attempt to recuperate in the present day, lengthy flight [ahead], which can also be going to impression their our bodies, and that we’ll have a superb follow as soon as we get there the following day.”
It’s not the beginning the Nets wished for his or her $97 million middle, for whom they’ve lofty targets equivalent to incomes Defensive Participant of the 12 months.
Claxton, 25, might be a key starter for the Nets, and is the final hyperlink to their higher days, beginning within the 2019-20 season.
With Claxton out, Noah Clowney might have extra alternatives at middle after having some success in the direction of the top of final season, together with 4 video games with 10 or extra factors, arising from the G-League.
“He’s a multi-positional participant on each ends of the ground. That works in his favor as a result of it offers us extra alternatives to be on the court docket, proper, like he might play perimeter spot or the middle spot once we play small,” Fernandez stated. “However on the identical time, typically it’s more durable to determine it out since you may very well be slightly bit far and wide, proper? So it’s my job to assist him be environment friendly, whether or not he performs on the 4, the perimeter spot or the 5. And to date, he’s carried out a really, excellent job.”
Dorian Finney-Smith gained the primary Borough Cup, a brand new weeklong free throw capturing contest instituted at Fernandez’s coaching camp.
It’s scored just like golf, so the decrease the rating, the higher.
Finney-Smith ended with a -27, adopted by Dennis Schroder (-21) and Tyrese Martin (-19) to spherical out the highest three.
On the backside had been Claxton (9) and Ben Simmons (11).
The Nets took some notes from the Lakers and introduced a DJ into follow Friday.
When requested what he wished to listen to, Fernandez stated: “It is dependent upon what the group is. After I play music for others, you’ve obtained to play for the group. In the event you play for your self, that’s once you’re a foul DJ.”
