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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Nets have gone from worrying about Nic Claxton’s back to talking about Nic Claxton being back.
For the first time since his back injury flared up a month ago — and really for the first time all season — Brooklyn’s starting center is returning to form.
“Just me being aggressive and just feeling like myself again. Picking my spots, watching film, and I just got to keep building off of that and be consistent,” Claxton said. “Physically, mentally, knowing everything’s good with my back, just trusting in my body and just putting the work in.”
Claxton feeling like himself has resulted in him looking and playing like himself, especially with Sunday’s strong outing vs. Milwaukee.
He was looking to build on it Friday in Memphis.
“Yeah, [it’s a] combination of him being more comfortable, playing more minutes, being aggressive,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said. “That’s what we want him to do, and we want him to do it every game. So he should be comfortable doing it. Also now, if he feels like he’s in better game shape, it’s going to become easier and easier. So [Milwaukee] was a good, good first step, and he’s got to continue to get better.”
After Claxton initially hurt his back over the summer, the soreness cropped back up, and he missed five out of seven games last month.
His scoring had gone up in all five straight contests since his return.
Finally came Sunday against the Bucks. Free from a minutes restriction, he had 21 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and two blocks in 32:38.
Claxton shot 9 of 14, including throwing down several lobs.
“It’s getting used to it,” Fernandez said. “Finding the right spacing and also just based on how the other team’s defense is and their coverages are.
“Obviously we know Nic’s ability to put pressure on the rim and go for lobs. Also, we have to be good at throwing them. We weren’t very good in the Chicago game, just getting used to it. In my opinion, Nic played his best game last game, and I want to see him put games together just like that.”
That includes Claxton’s season-long quest to get on the same page with point guard Dennis Schroder on the pick-and-roll.
“Yeah, they need those reps together,” Fernandez said. “The reality is they haven’t played enough minutes yet. But you can see it now that more consistent minutes, and Nic looks better and better and better every day. He looks like himself. So that’s just good. We need that connection. We need them to get on the court, talk to each other, see how they want to do certain things.
“It’s not just me telling them how to do it all the time. Good players, what they do is they show you. So they can figure it out. I’ll give them the ownership. They’re very good, and they’ll be even better.”
With the schedule lightening because of the NBA Play-In, the Nets have had to do that work during rare in-season practice time.
“We’re getting there. Things don’t always click right away,” Claxton said. “[Wednesday] in practice, we had like 20 minutes or so. We were just working. I was asking [Schroder] how he wants the screen to be set and how he wants me to roll for him. So we’re definitely getting there.
“That’s modern-day basketball. Being able to make plays in the pick-and-roll, especially when you have a live player like myself and a high-level basketball player [like Schroder]. He’s able to put a lot of pressure on the rim. That’s the way the game is now. We can definitely use that to our advantage.”
Claxton has progressively gotten more touches, isolating, playing high post and even bringing the ball up after rebounds.
After handing out four assists against the Bucks, he expects to keep getting more involved in the offense.
“For sure,” Claxton said. “It’s also me being aggressive and picking my spots when I’m able to attack because I have those opportunities. Just always thinking scoring, as well.”
