Bruce Brown has been a revelation. Dude is 6'4 and playing pick and roll as the roll man and excelling at it averaging 18 ppg over the last 6 games on over 67% shooting from the floor. 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists against the Rockets. Nic Claxton just dropped 17 points in 17 minutes on the Spurs and turned around and followed it up with 16 points in 16 minutes against the Rockets and chipped in 8 rebounds. Claxton is really an intriguing prospect. Did they just find their Jarrett Allen replacement and a young Clint Capela? He easily switches onto guards on the perimeter and can hold his own, but obviously needs to add some bulk and strength, reminiscent of a young Clint. I can't help but see the similarities with the way they are using him, but actually, he may have more upside than either. Obviously, it is on him to develop and work hard, but he can handle the ball like a guard when allowed to and his jump shot has a lot of growth potential. The ball-handling and shooting are simply not things they need from him right now, but they are in his bag.
Harden making 2 unknown and unheralded role players prosper like he always does sh*t, he is the one who administered 1st aid and CPR with proper chest compressions to Ben McLemore’s career saving it from certain death
I agree Claxton may actually have some significant upside though. Check out the ball-handling and shooting in this video for a 6'11 guy. Right now he's just being asked to be a vertical spacing, rim running, lob threat on offense and play defense which is what they need, but he has more to his game.
he has potential for sure...his switching out on the perimeter and being able to handle his own is what has stood out to me the most with Harden, all he needs to do on offense is be able to jump and catch and it’s easy buckets all day...that’s all any big has to do Brown getting easy bucket after easy bucket from Harden too...Harden is every role player’s stimulus package
how many times have we seen Harden make bottom barrel players look better than what they are. And guys trying to resurrect their careers in the league. All they needed was an ounce of good iq and understanding for Harden to work with and good things happen because he demands so much attention
Keep your hands up and ready . I think that is what was killing DJ . .. . Harden was hitting him and he seemed to have hands of stone or was just not ready . . . not often but enough to notice Rocket River
huh. DJ literally had a field day at the rim and finding the gaps off harden last night. easy money all night long
Pistons gave away Bruce Brown for free too, makes absolutely no sense. Bruce Brown looked exactly like what we wanted WB to do with Harden last year, without the ego and dumb shots. Claxton looks like Clint, very soft hands, good footwork and finesse, very good finishing at the rim, very quick for a big, can sky for boards, blocks and dunks... and they just kept him while trading for a top 3 player, when the Rockets instead got Kurucs a certified bum. Just like the Clips demanded Harrell in the CP3 trade, so dumb for the Rockets to not have done the same with Claxton.
Bruce Brown is like his father, Chucky Brown. He just knows how to be in the right spots to score easy buckets. His talent is being available in the right spots. This only works with great teammates that draw a lot of attention that know how to pass. Stick him on the rockets and he would be a 7 and 3 guy.
Claxton definitely reminds of Clint except he doesn't have the quick hops Clint has. Claxton has more offensive upside since he can dribble.
Bruce brown was in Steve Nash doghouse before the harden trade now he is the next big thing? Coincidence? Young Claxton better get a financial planner because he will be a rich young man in the next few years playing with the best pick and roll passer to ever play. Harden has already made him look like this. C Wood was damn James you left me with the brick brothers who don’t pass.
Looks like the rest of the world is finally figuring out what we already knew. Check out this title and read the article. “The Nets can plug in almost any combination of players next to James Harden and still win.” “Role players become the best version of themselves next to Harden. The Nets emptied their bench to trade for him and have been cycling through players on 10-day contracts to fill out their rotation. They shouldn’t have the depth to sustain playing without one of their Big Three. But it doesn’t matter because Harden turns fringe players into mainstays. Take Bruce Brown, for example. He’s a 2018 second-round pick who, at 6-foot-4, can’t space the floor and averaged just 6.3 points per game in his first two seasons. Harden attracts so much defensive attention that Brown has been able to find cracks in the defense and make a living at the rim with the Nets. He’s averaging 18.0 points on 67.7 percent shooting over the past six games. Most of those points start with Harden”
We were actually arguing on this board about Terrance Jones and D-Mo being power forwards of the future and who had the most star potential. Smh...no seriously, I really just closed my eyes and shook my head just now lol
Brown and Claxton are playable versions of KJ McDaniels and Zhou Qi. Rockets should have made McDaniels play small ball center instead of 3-D wing. The league just wasn't ready..
Claxton remind me of Wood under the rim. Lanky and can dribble a bit. No outside shot like Wood though. Brown has a great basketball sense, he gets in the right spot for rebounds and open layups and you can't teach that. Harden seems to make everyone look better
