Prokorov wrote:MrDollarBills wrote:Prokorov wrote:I was definitely wrong putting him in the Perry D-league scrub category. He is certainly a rotation player in the NBA. Hand up I was off on that one. He is certainly closer to Kurucs years 1/2 as someone who can make a positive impact in large minutes. Also, He can play the 5 on offense. His screens need some work but he isnt like Okafor who was just alergic to contact.
Defensively I still think he is a SF/PF. he doesnt protect the rim well enough to be a 5 on D. He blocks some shots but he isnt a shot blocker. most of those are activity. Smalls are still driving and scoring mostly undeterred similar to when Green is on the floor. But thats not a claxton issue. Nash wants to play small and sacrafice shot blocking. The idea rebounding is an issue is dated. rebounding is most teams lowest priority
I'm not worried about his size. This isnt the 1980s. if teams are going to post up and back down their center to a 35 point game they will lose almost every time. You simply cant win like that in todays NBA. Even the bigs who do mostly score you see their teams stall in the playoffs or their bigs score a ton outside the paint as well. Claxton will put on weight once he gets older. Allen still isnt the biggest guy and was smaller the past 2 seasons but still got the job done.
People just need to temper their expectations. Just like Levert wasnt an all-star he was still a good player. Claxton wont be some 2-way stud but he could be a good player in his own right.
1.8 blocks per game so far. The fact that we switch on everything also takes him away from the rim so we really don't know yet.
Either way props to you for giving Nic his due. I was cautious as well about him but he's showing that he has NBA chops and he plays with confidence.
I think there is a difference between blocking shots and being a rim protector. He has blocked a bunch of shots on smalls taking perimeter jump shots on switches or helping on the break. Those are great things.... but when a small drives to the rim at the half court and finishes and gashes us like they have all year if DJ is on the bench, thats when you need rim protection. Also, 2 or even 3 blocks needs to be in context. is that 2-3 blocks but 16 layups by smalls? or is that 2-3 blocks and smalls being intimidated to come inside or drive and kick due to not having as clean a look?
Again, this is not a criticism of claxton. its not his game. he has plenty of strengths and if Nash wants to go that route due to other advantages so be it.
He had a nice one at the rim last night against DeRozan, but I don't have the context for all of his blocks so I can't answer, I honestly can't remember.