The Nets have a big problem right now. For example, they don't have any great people.
Only two centers on the roster, starter Nic Claxton and backup Dayron Sharpe, are sidelined with injuries.
Both will miss Tuesday's NBA Cup game against the visiting Hornets at Barclays Center.
Sharpe has not played all season because of a left hamstring strain, and Claxton's lower back strain, which required an epidural, is not expected to be updated until this weekend.
Their return won't come soon enough for the undermanned and small Nets, who have lost five of six games.
“We didn't have any centers. Obviously, it's always good to have Nick, it's always good to have Dayron. They have a great attitude, they have great energy. Because he helps the team,” coach Jordi Fernandes said. “The reality is, this is part of the NBA. Everybody's out. We're lucky it's not a major injury. They'll be back soon. When they're back, we'll be happy to be back. But right now. So, this is our reality and we will find a way to play.”
Their absence had a trickle-down effect.
Not only did it leave the Nets vulnerable on the boards and in the paint, but it also took Ben Simmons out of his comfortable position and forced him to play in areas where he was clearly ineffective.
Noah Clowney, still only 20 years old and toned, has added some muscle but is not physically ready to play center field yet.
At 6-foot-9 and 230 pounds, he was bullied multiple times by Karl-Anthony Towns during Sunday's game against the Knicks.
Simmons, who is an inch taller and 10 pounds heavier, started at center during Claxton's absence and even early in the season when Claxton was limited in minutes due to a hamstring injury.
But the Nets, a small-ball team that lacks rebounding under the best of circumstances, have struggled on the glass in the past two games without Claxton.
“We've got to box out more. We've got to find our guys in the box out,” Simmons said. “That's a factor. Rebounding is part of it. You've got to box out. So if you don't hit someone or you don't know where they are, you don't get rebounds.
“We have to run the ball in transition, so we have to rebound first. We can't leak.”
An update on Sharpe was expected on Monday, but his progress is still unknown other than he will miss the game against Charlotte. And the need to start Simmons at center made him ineffective and kept him from point plays.
“Ben plays point guard. He's one of our point guards, playmakers. [in New Orleans] He had 10 assists in the first half and 12 in this game. So what we want him to do is push and help us find good shots early,” Fernandez said. “He's important for us because of his defensive versatility and size. He always helps us play fast and that's one of the things we want to do.”
Coming off the bench as a backup to starting point guard Dennis Schroder, Simmons is averaging an elite 7 points, 10 assists, and 5.5 rebounds for a 2.2 net rating and 55.6 assist percentage.
However, when he started at center, those numbers plummeted to just 4.9 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.9 boards, with a -6.7 net rating and 39.1 assist percentage.
The decline is noticeable.
“The talent we have is the talent we have. I believe in all of our guys. … We've got to be better and we all know that,” Cam Johnson said. Ta.
“One of the things we always want to do is run in transition, but we can't let that affect defensive rebounding. … There's Dorian. He's a good rebounder, but he's really focused on boxing. Same goes for Ben. So it's up to everyone else to come back and bounce back and make that effort. …So we've got to find that balance between running and everyone focusing on the ball. It must be done.”
