Two is better than one.
That’s the approach the Nets have increasingly utilized at the center position with Nic Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe, and both were instrumental in a hard-fought, back-and-forth, 114-113 win over the Hawks on Wednesday night.
Claxton, who is primarily the starter, scored just four points in 28 minutes but hauled in 10 rebounds and recorded four assists, a steal and a block.
Sharpe played 19 minutes, meaning one of them was on the floor for all but one minute of the game, and added eight points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.
His plus-minus was plus-five, tied for the third-best mark on the team.
“They have become a little tag team, which I love,” head coach Jacque Vaughn said after the game. “You know, we’ve played them in shorter spurts. So that high energy, high effort seems to be paying off for us. For those two to grab 20 [combined] rebounds against a team like that, and draw fouls from being in the right position to box out and inside our guy. Overall, both of them are impacting the game on both ends of the floor.”
Both Claxton and Sharpe’s roles are primarily as rim protectors and rebounders.
Though Claxton has not yet played enough games to qualify, his 2.5 blocks per game would be the fourth-highest in the NBA.
But though he does not always fill the stat sheet on the offensive end, he still plays a pivotal role.
His athleticism allows him to fly up and down the court, and he’s made strides in his ball-handling and passing.
He’s become an important part of the Nets’ transition offense as a result.
“You saw Nic [Wednesday night], his ability to push the basketball for us, start breaks for us,” Vaughn said. “He’s gonna grow in that area.”
Sharpe has seen his role expand in his third season after being drafted with the No. 29 pick in 2021.
His draft mate, Cam Thomas, who was picked at No. 27, has enjoyed a breakout season, averaging 24.3 points per game.
It appears Sharpe is now beginning to emerge as well.
He’s averaging 15.9 minutes, 6.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game — all career highs.
The Nets now have strong coverage at the center position for all 48 minutes, something many teams lack.
Vaughn is able to keep both fresh, interchanging them throughout the game.
“Day’Ron is just becoming more consistent,” Vaughn said. “And that’s what you want as a coach, to not have hesitancy of putting the guy in the game. Knowing what you’re gonna get. He’s grown in that area, and it’s good to see.”
Both have been central to the team’s defensive turnaround.
Their defense hit a low point in a 147-145 overtime loss to the Hawks on Nov. 22.
But Brooklyn has won five of its past six games since, and it’s fitting the latest came in a strong defensive showing in Wednesday’s rematch.
The Nets’ 111.3 defensive rating during that stretch was eighth-best in the league.
For the month of November, it was 116.4 — 19th best. In October it was 118.0, third worst in the NBA.
As the Nets’ anchors have grown in presence, so has their team defense.
“It was a collective effort across the board [Wednesday],” Vaughn said. “[Atlanta] is the third-ranked offensive team in the league, and to hold them to 113 points, pretty good on the road for us after we both had days off. I gave our guys a lot of credit.
“The growth that you see is they were in the bonus early in the first quarter, but Trae [Young] doesn’t shoot another free throw after the first quarter. And so our ability to play without fouling and being in position and helping each other and not panic.”