Nets center Nic Claxton was ejected from Thursday’s game against Toronto, allowing second-year forward Noah Clowney to close out the game and shine, The New York Post’s Brian Lewis writes. The 21st overall pick in 2023 recorded season highs of 37 minutes played and nine rebounds to go along with 11 points.
“His growth defensively, his physicality — obviously its multiple areas — he’s been one of our best players at going vertical, taking a charge,” coach Jordi Fernandez said. “His physicality on the ball guarding a really good player like Scottie Barnes, that growth was important. That’s why I was comfortable with him playing all those minutes. … I’m very happy for him because he showed growth. That’s what it’s all about.”
Clowney is averaging 7.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game this year and looks to be among the team’s young pillars moving forward. If forwards like Dorian Finney-Smith or Cameron Johnson are traded by February 6, Clowney may continue to see his minutes rise as the year goes on.
We have more out of New York:
- The Nets‘ identity changed after Dennis Schröder was moved to the Warriors, forcing Ben Simmons and Claxton to start together, which is inhibiting spacing, Lewis writes in another story. The duo struggled together in their first post-Schröder outing, but Simmons had a solid night in the win against Toronto. “Yeah, I mean, there’s more opportunity for me now, just being at that point guard position. So just finding my ways,” Simmons said. “I’m gonna go talk to coach about some different looks and things like that that I see out there.“
- Mikal Bridges started his Knicks career in a shooting slump, but he’s starting to flip the script, the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy writes. In his last eight games, Bridges is shooting 43.1% from beyond the arc on 7.3 attempts per game. “Once he started making shots, nobody said nothing [about his revamped shooting form]. Nobody is talking about how it looks now,” teammate Cameron Payne said. “So he just be locked in, man. He’s pretty good with stuff like that man. I actually applaud him for it. Because you could easily get distracted with that or get messed up in the head with it.”
- Karl-Anthony Towns is playing at an MVP-level pace, Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post asserts. The Knicks center was No. 6 on NBA.com’s most recent MVP ladder. Towns’ 32 points and 20 rebounds against the Timberwolves put an exclamation point on a strong start to the season, Vaccaro writes.
- Five of the next seven Knicks‘ games come against teams in the bottom four of the league standings, Bondy observes. The Knicks have won seven of their last nine games and are third in the Eastern Conference at 17-10.
So Dennis Schroder was playing well spacing with Brooklyn, who has many bigs, and the Warriors do not, they play outdated smallball that everyone knows how to beat by raining buckets in the paint on them.
Do buckets in the paint rain?
No in the paint it don’t rain ….
Just another example of not knowing your terminology. The paint is a power game. Mano a mano.
No.6 mvp ladder sounds good. Unfortunately for guys like Towns or Tatum, who I’m assuming is just ahead of him. The gap between 3 and 4 is quite big.
Giannis, Jokic, and SGA this season. I had SGA winning MVP, still do. I’d rather Jokic or Giannis on my team though.
“Since that ugly night in Charlotte, Bridges is leading the Knicks in total points while shooting 58 percent overall and 43.1 percent on 3s.
His net rating during this eight-game stretch is a plus-21, the best on the team. “
Bridges is my guy. Glad to see him rising to the top. I believe in him and believe he still has more give. In Bridges and OG we have two of best 2Way players in the game. I still see upside for this team. The team chemistry is still a work in progress.
Big lineup Thibs used helps Bridges and team D. And until Mitch comes back. It should be used more.
Precious, Bridges, Brunson, Towns, OG.
In the Minny gm. OG switched on Randle and Bridges on Edwards. And the gm totally changed.
Love Hart but until Mitch comes back. I’d rather see Precious starting. Hart can still avg more mins.
Jokic, Giannis, SGA should be at top of MVP race now. But it’s still too early for me. After all star break. We will see the real leaders more clearly. And KAT will be among them. Team record does mean something for this award ……. NYK