Brooklyn Nets forward Noah Clowney has been having some rough moments this season as he adjusts to a bench role after having the best season of his career last year. Brooklyn has been asking Clowney to provide defense and rebounding while playing less minutes and while he had arguably his worst game of the season on Sunday, he seems to have found a way to turn himself around.
"He impacted the game. I think that when you have size [with a player like] him, that he can guard multiple positions, he's switchable," Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez said of Clowney following Wednesday's 145-111 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Clowney, along with virtually every player that stepped on the floor for Brooklyn, was able to get whatever he wanted on the offensive
end of the court and Fernandez approved of his overall performance.
"He's been rebounding very well. Today, [he had] three rebounds, but the 16 points, the efficiency, taking good shots to get into the free-throw line," Fernandez continued. "So, [I'm] very happy with him, and we just got to keep taking positive steps here."
Clowney finished the contest with 16 points, three rebounds, two steals, and one block in just 19 minutes and that was quite the turnaround from what he did on Sunday. In Sunday's 130-93 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, Clowney fouled out in just eight minutes as it looked like he was more frustrated than usual, but he managed to lock in enough to focus on being the best version of himself on both ends of the floor.
Fernandez said after Sunday's loss to the Mavericks that the team needs Clowney on the floor and not in foul trouble and it seems like he got the message as he stayed out of trouble for the most part. Clowney did pick up a technical foul for his altercation with Pelicans forward Julian Reese, but outside of that, he played his best game of the season and the hope is that he can continue being that version of himself as the season moves along.
Coach Jordi Fernández breaks down the connectivity of the Nets offense and comments on Egor Dëmin's return from injury. #NETSonYES pic.twitter.com/FN6mACJ3xa
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This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Jordi Fernandez discusses Noah Clowney's breakout vs. Pelicans
