Nic Claxton out for Nets’ preseason opener in opposition to Clippers

The Nets will start their preseason in opposition to the Clippers on Oct. 8 with out their most full participant.

Nic Claxton will likely be out on account 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 harm.

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 recreation of the season and doing what we consider is finest 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 recreation isn’t but recognized.

“Clearly, at the moment’s a giant restoration day after three days of working actually exhausting,” Fernandez stated. “Now, we’re simply making an attempt to recuperate at the moment, lengthy flight [ahead], which can be going to influence their our bodies, and that we’ll have a great follow as soon as we get there the subsequent day.”

It’s not the beginning the Nets needed for his or her $97 million heart, for whom they’ve lofty objectives equivalent to incomes Defensive Participant of the 12 months.

Claxton, 25, will likely 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 heart after having some success in the direction of the tip 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 provides us extra alternatives to be on the court docket, proper, like he might play perimeter spot or the middle spot after we play small,” Fernandez stated. “However on the identical time, typically it’s tougher to determine it out since you might be just a little 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 up to now, he’s achieved a really, superb job.”

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Dorian Finney-Smith received the primary Borough Cup, a brand new weeklong free throw taking pictures 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 have been Claxton (9) and Ben Simmons (11).

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The Nets took some notes from the Lakers and introduced a DJ into follow Friday.

When requested what he needed to listen to, Fernandez stated: “It is determined by what the gang is. After I play music for others, you’ve obtained to play for the gang. In case you play for your self, that’s if you’re a nasty DJ.”