Nic Clacton and the Nets have a way to go on defense

Usually well stocked, this stat column is strangely empty this season. After five matches, Nic Clacton recorded … just one block, while his career average is closer to two units per night. Some will logically see a diminished defensive impact on his part, while the Nets have had a disastrous start to the season in this area.

With 129.1 points allowed per 100 possessions, the Brooklyn team has the worst defensive rating in the league. And within New York’s team, the pivot sports one of the worst defensive records. But Jordi Fernandes, who sees in him ” very good defender », is behind to support him.

« He is not satisfied. He has high standards and is hard on himself… We’re all in this together. I believe him. We had a great period last year where we were at a high offensive level, and now that’s not the case. (…) We know he’s a great circle protector. We know he can rebound, run in transition and grab rebounds. Those are things he knows how to do and I believe in him. And he believes in it », formulated by the coach.

A change in philosophy at work

The latter decided to focus more on defensive shifts and two-man catches this season, which pushed Claxton out of his comfort zone as a drop-cover defender. Add to this a fragile perimeter defense and a young and inexperienced team, and often find themselves having to make up for too many mistakes at once.

« We should be at the level of the screen, and when we go too far above it, it’s not good. From there, we also need to be able to protect the circle. We are not at the level in terms of deviations, where we should be. We are not present for offensive fouls, because we did not make any. We are not good at verticality either: we lag behind in all those aspects. And that comes from effort and activity. I know we can do better », aims the coach.

So many aspects on which Clacton and all his teammates are expected. ” I want to see the best effort and the best concentration at the same time, and that means playing every possession, communicating every break, every timeout, and having an engaged bench. We can work on all these things and improve them, but so far we have not done it consistently », finally regrets the coach.

How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.