The Nets are ready to welcome back Nicolas Claxton, who is expected to be available tonight after missing more than five weeks with a non-COVID illness, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Claxton was Brooklyn’s starting center in the first three games of the season, then moved to a reserve role for game four before the illness struck.
Claxton refused to comment on reports that he had mononucleosis, preferring to call it an “undisclosed” illness. He said the most difficult aspect of the experience was dropping weight off his already-slender 6’11” frame.
“The toughest part was just honestly just losing weight, and looking at yourself in the mirror and I was just so small,” Claxton said. “But I’m back now. I’m back in shape and ready to get back in game shape.”
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Trail Blazers‘ firing of general manager Neil Olshey may open the door for a trade with the Sixers, suggests Kyle Neubeck of The Philly Voice. Olshey drafted backcourt stars Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum and has been reluctant to break them up. Both have been mentioned as possible returns for Philadelphia as the Sixers seek a resolution to the Ben Simmons standoff. Neubeck states that Portland may be more open to moving McCollum now that Olshey is no longer in charge, or Lillard may see Olshey’s firing as incentive to request a trade. While most Philadelphia fans prefer the second option, Neubeck believes a move with McCollum is more realistic.
- In a separate story, Neubeck examines the Sixers‘ recent offensive struggles and looks at how the team can create more easy opportunities for Joel Embiid. Part of the problem occurs when Matisse Thybulle is used for defensive purposes, making it easier for opponents to double team Embiid. Neubeck says coach Doc Rivers needs to adjust his rotations, especially late in games. “The whole season I haven’t gotten any easy ones. It feels like I’ve got to work for everything, that’s why I say we’ve got to communicate,” Embiid said this week. “I’ve got to let my teammates and my guys know, and I probably got to come up with it myself, find ways that I can get easy ones. It just feels like I have to work for everything. I get doubled every single possession.”
- Jaylen Brown experienced tightness in his right hamstring during Wednesday’s game and Celtics coach Ime Udoka plans to be “cautious” about playing him, tweets Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston. Brown missed eight games last month with a hamstring strain.
The Sixers issue on offense is they have no real point guard. Maxey is a great combo guard, but they really need someone who can pass more to set up the shooters like Curry, Korkmaz, etc.
Sorta like Ben Simmons
No, Simmons is a below average passer except in transition
westbrook for ben simmons.
Some Reporters are not the smartest people in the world
IMO
New Blazers GM won’t trade Lillard this season because of new
They should trade CJ. And Hawks should pick him up. Blazers can get more from Hawks imo. He’s the solid vet scorer, closer Hawks need.
Go all out of Dame and if not then give up and go for a much smaller name.
Dame and RoCo for Simmons, Maxey, Thybulle, 2 firsts and 2 seconds.
RoCo is on an expiring deal, so he doesn’t have much value but the Sixers will want him and value him in a deal.
Portland gets back Simmons, a multiple time all star, all nba teams, all defensive first teams. Maxey who is currently averaging 17.5-5-4 shooting 47/37/89.
Thybulle who made all defensive second team.
Plus the picks aswell.
Sixers then line up Dame Curry RoCo Harris and Embiid with Milton Green Korkmaz Niang and Drummond off the bench. Dame will be playing with another all star for the first time since 2015 and under the best head coach he’s ever had.
We will have a leader and closer to games in Lillard, one of the best shooters ever in Curry, a very solid 3 and D wing in RoCo, a near all star PF in Harris and last years second place in the MVP race Joel Embiid, one of the best big men in the game.
As a Sixers fan I’d have us on par with the Nets as the best team in the NBA. Nets have a better big 3 but Kyrie isn’t even playing currently. So it’s 2vs 3…. Harris vs Curry is close, as for the final starter we have RoCo and the Nets haven’t been able to settle on a centre all season.
Off the bench they are slightly better but lack wings whereas we have another solid centre, loads of shooters and then Danny Green for veteran presence. We also have the better head coach in Doc who has many years of experience compared to Nash who is currently in his second year as a head coach, having never been an assistant.
Just stop
That trade works if you get the Dame of years bygone, with the actual version is just plain awful, in my opinion anyway!
Market value
Simmons + Danny Green = McCollum + Simons + Covington
Lol what
Nets are not winning without Kyrie. Or a trade for Kyrie. I don’t even think Nets want him back now.
Good note on Knicks :;
We searched for a better PG in off season. Then Kemba magically became available. But we should be looking internally more. We got one who plays both ways. And is a pass first PG. McBride has been putting up big numbers in G- league. I hope this means they will give him more mins.
link to postingandtoasting.com
Wonder if Sixers would be interested in Kemba. He could play a role for them. Like Rose does for us. Productive mins at PG off the bench 20-25 mins. Sixers are another team who isn’t winning anything. Without a Ben trade. Crazy how top two teams in East. Biggest threat to Bucks this yr. Both are mired in star player controversy. Both not getting any production from it. How long can this go on, Nuts.
I’d love to take Kemba but would be interested to see what the Knicks would be after in return in order to make the deal happen.
Kemba at worst would be a solid veteran back up behind Maxey and could help lead the second unit.
Besides getting Dame of Jaylen Brown.
The next deal I like is Atlanta.
Ben Simmons, Isiah Joe and Charles Bassey for Bogdan Bogdanovic, DAndre Hunter, Onyeka Okungwu and a first round pick.
I wouldn’t mind then flipping Okungwu to the Knicks for Kemba.
Would be a solid return for the Knicks.
My Sixers would be really strong with Maxey, Bogi, Hunter, Harris, Embiid, Kemba, Curry, Green, Thybulle, Korkmaz, Niang and Drummond. On paper that would be a top 5 team in the league easy
A Rose type roll is what I’m thinking. 20-25 mins . This made Rose a solid contributor. I can see that in Philly. Plus helps their depth.
Toppin, Walker, Grimes, two #1 picks ….
For Ben …..
To be honest the guy I like most is Grant. Had a big gm against Suns last night.
Nah I would turn that down for Ben. I’d also rather go for Grant if I’m the Knicks too
The Knicks are not playing as a team. Like they did last yr. Mitch is out of shape. Noel has been out. And they’ve tried to add in two new starters. They don’t play with urgency as they did last yr. My personal opinion about Randle.
Is he is not happy with Kemba walking in. And getting superstar attention. Something he had to work real hard for. And really still doesn’t get it at that level. We in NY will always give homeys lots of love.
Randle has not tried to fit in with Kemba imo. Cause he’s played different since Kemba was sat down. The Knicks are not a star driven team. They were driven by. Good players work hard ethic. A coach who backed you if you played for team. They have been inconsistent to say the least.
Kenny Smith has come out and said. They don’t know how to use Kemba. Kemba was not the answer. But we wanted 24-28 mins of solid PG play. Even 20-22 mins and Rose 20-22 mins. Would have worked fine. Still could.
But Randles play this yr. Plus our bigs out. Is biggest reasons for our record. So it’s on Thibs to make it work. And get Randle back to form. He’s not a superstar. We Win cause he leads by example. Wake up !!!!
link to nydailynews.com
Mike Lupica ——- said this today
We are going to find out if you can be a serious contender with Randle as your best player and, far too often, chief ball stopper. We are going to find out just what kind of realistic possibilities RJ Barrett has to be a star in the NBA. And how much Rose has left. And if you can hand the ball, and the team, over to a talented but erratic kid like Immanuel Quickley, who doesn’t turn 23 until next June, the same month when Barrett turns 22.
We’re going to find out just what kind of realistic ceiling Mitchell Robinson has in the middle, and if he can become some kind of B-list Deandre Ayton.
………………………..
I agree with all of it. Lupica must be following me lols.