Nic Claxton should be leading the league in blocks, or Defensive Rating, or something like that.
Not in flagrant foul points.
The Nets paid Claxton to be the anchor of their defense, and the past month is a reminder that he has that kind of talent.
But in Wednesday’s 129-121 loss to the Thunder — the best team in the Western Conference — there he was in street clothes and serving a suspension for the kind of silliness Brooklyn simply can’t afford.
And Claxton knows it.
“We’ve had those conversations, private conversations. He held himself accountable and to a really high standard,” Nets coach Jordi Fernández said of his talk with Claxton. “We’re going to miss him [Wednesday] night, and that’s what’s most important. We’re missing one of our players and we need him. So he already knew. It’s not that this was not new for him.”
Which is exactly the rub.
Claxton — who just got a four-year, $97 million contract over the summer — has been praised by Fernández as a potential Defensive Player of the Year.
And it’s his play on that end lately that sparked Brooklyn to winning seven of their last 10 entering Wednesday’s game against the Thunder. But these flagrant fouls aren’t new.
Just worrying.
USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Claxton has accrued an unacceptable six flagrant points this season, the latest coming on his Flagrant 1 Foul for pushing Justin Champagnie in the back with 9:24 left in Monday’s 107-99 loss at Washington.
“We lost our composure, and we were not good with whatever happened with a flagrant and a technical and all that stuff and a foul before the ball gets inbounded,” Fernández said. “All those things are a lack of focus, and that’s not the team we want to be.”
And while the play wasn’t dirty or malicious, it was clear. And avoidable. Even the other Nets had to concede that was a Flagrant 1.
“As a teammate, no; but looking at the rule books, it’s kind of obvious,” Keon Johnson said. “But that’s just part of learning and growing with the game. So after this one … we’ll get him back and we’ll just continue to learn and grow together.”
Claxton needs to grow from this.
His total is tied Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart for the most flagrant points in the league. Even another Flagrant 1 would earn Claxton a one-game suspension, while exceeding seven flagrant points would net him a two-game ban.
After picking up a total of 21 technicals in the prior two seasons, Claxton’s infractions have gotten worse. And so have the consequences.
The center was ejected and fined $25,000 in December for heaving the ball into the stands in a 101-94 win over Toronto.
“I just had a mental lapse, and I just launched the ball in the crowd,” Claxton admitted at the time. “And I can’t let my emotions get to that point. I got to be there for my team.”
But he wasn’t there for his team Wednesday.
Flagrant fouls on Oct. 23 against Atlanta, Dec. 1 vs. Orlando, and Jan. 27 against Sacramento left him no room for error.
And then on Monday came that error.
“I don’t think it should have been a flagrant foul, personally,” said Day’Ron Sharpe, who was left as Brooklyn’s only big man on Wednesday. “The only reason [Champagnie] couldn’t land is because the other guy pushed [Cam Johnson] down. … He couldn’t land because CJ got pushed down. That’s probably the only reason they called a flagrant. But I don’t think it was flagrant. I do it all the time.”
That leaves him with five technicals, four flagrants and three ejections this season. And even if one suggests that Monday’s foul didn’t warrant a flagrant, it broaches the question of whether Claxton is earning a reputation with the referees.
“Obviously we’re going to miss him and we’re going to miss his size as the anchor of our defense,” Fernández said.
“We realized after the Washington game that he probably gets suspended,” Sharpe said. “It’s a big loss for us. Nic brings a lot for us: his energy, paint defense, perimeter defense, lob threat, passing, playmaking.”
Cam Thomas, cleared for practice last week, is day to day. D’Angelo Russell (right ankle) and Noah Clowney (left ankle) will both miss the next two games, but should be practicing next week and could potentially return to play, as well.
“They both are doing great,” Fernández said. “We’ll probably talk about having them on the court at some point next week. They’re progressing well, they’re around the group and they’ve been [helpful]. They’re great energy when we have them around. We need their presence. It’s good, because it seems like if everything goes well next week we’ll see where they’re at, and just try to keep working on that and have them get some contact and have them back on the court.”
