If Nerlens Noel wasn’t the answer for Brooklyn’s backup center debacle, the Nets had better find another answer — and soon.

Days after the Nets declined to give Noel a second 10-day contract, the Nets were obliterated on the glass in a 101-96 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Thursday.

As versatile as starting center Nic Claxton is on both ends of the floor, his biggest shortcoming — brute strength — continues to be a priority for the Nets to address.

Especially if second-year forward Day’Ron Sharpe — who was available but didn’t play against the Kings on Thursday — is out of the rotation.

That’s because the bruiser remains the archetype of player that stumps and stampedes the Nets at every turn.

What has been true of the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers was true in the Nets’ loss to the league’s No. 1 offense on the eve of St. Patrick’s Day.

Just like the Nets have rotational limitations that make them susceptible to being trampled over the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid, Brooklyn had no answer for Kings All-Star Domantas Sabonis.

Sabonis punished the Nets from opening tip to the final buzzer. Head coach Jacque Vaughn tried a variety of rotational tactics — from staying big with Claxton to going small with the 6-5 Royce O’Neale playing backup five — but they all faltered.

The son of NBA legend Arvydas Sabonis finished with 24 points, 21 rebounds and five assists on the night. He entered the night averaging 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists per game against the Nets since they signed Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in the summer of 2019. On the season, the Kings’ star is averaging 19 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.

And his play was an embodiment of one of Brooklyn’s longest-standing issues as the …read more

Source:: The Denver Post