Conditioning and physicality have been factors of emphasis within the opening days of Nets camp. Beneath second-year coach Jordi Fernández, the main focus is obvious: solely the strongest will final.
“Some people are strong,” Noah Clowney mentioned. “[Day’Ron Sharpe] is obviously a big person, so you struggle with some people, you stand up others. It’s all dependent on personnel.”
“He looks great, and credit to him and the work he’s put in the whole summer,” Fernández mentioned. “He looks like a grown man at just 21, and I’m excited to watch him play real games.”
Clowney, a 6-9 ahead, weighed 210 kilos at Alabama and carried that itemizing into his first two NBA seasons, although he mentioned he performed nearer to 220–225 kilos final yr. A summer season spent consuming with objective and grinding within the weight room has reshaped him.
Now he’s a distinct beast at 234 kilos, aiming to show the added energy into sturdiness and progress.
“That’s been the whole goal, being a better driver,” Clowney mentioned. “I have to get stronger; I have to be able to drive through contact and be able to still be able to explode.”
The 21-year-old averaged 9.1 factors and three.9 rebounds final season however missed 36 video games due to a number of ankle sprains. He appeared in 46 video games final season, almost double his rookie complete of 23, however his scoring effectivity dropped sharply each on the rim and from 3-point vary.
Clowney is clearly aiming to rebound after a disappointing second season. With a sturdier body to deal with the pains of an 82-game slate, he seems higher outfitted for the problem forward.
“My primary goal is just to stay healthy, and outside of staying healthy, just to get better every game,” Clowney mentioned. “I learn something from each game, but I don’t like to make the same mistake over and over again. That’s the goal.”
Fernández famous that Clowney was a great rebounder earlier than, however along with his added energy, “he’ll be a better rebounder.”
Nonetheless, Clowney has but to common even one help by way of two seasons, a reminder of his progress space as a decision-maker. He sees the answer in turning into extra aggressive downhill in transition whereas specializing in enjoying off two toes — a behavior that provides him higher stability and management when possessions get chaotic.
“I just don’t want him to overthink it, you know? It’s not that complicated,” Fernández mentioned. “Just go ahead, go there and play. He puts his time and work into it. And I’m going to let him make mistakes, as long as the intentions are good. So, I don’t want him to be trying to analyze everything… So, so far, keep it simple. Go there and don’t overthink.”
