© Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Nic Claxton understands the weight of winning a game against the Magic
Nic Claxton and the Nets got a big win against the Cleveland Cavaliers the other day, but he looks forward to the trials and tribulations they’ll face when playing against the Orlando Magic. Considering Orlando is a top-five team in the Eastern Conference, Brooklyn is under pressure to perform.
Clax does not want to dwell on the result against Cleveland because he reiterated his belief that every game is a must-win. The Magic will be a challenging opponent, but Nic and the rest of the Nets are ready.
“Well, Cleveland is missing a lot of players right now, so I think it'd be better if we can come out and have a showing like that against a team like Orlando,” Clax said in a post-practice interview.
“Last game, we kind of got punked. They just played with a lot more energy than us. If you’re not playing with energy in the NBA, you’re not gonna win games, so we definitely gotta come out and have our energy right, focus on the game plan.”
The Nets want payback from the loss to Orlando
The Nets are looking for payback for the February 27 game against the Magic when Brooklyn lost by 27 points. It was a bad result to experience, but it has stuck with Nic and the rest of the Nets team.
Thankfully, Brooklyn already has experience beating the Magic this season, as they’re leading the season series two games to one. Brooklyn was victorious in the first two games, winning 124-104 in November and 129-101 in December.
Of course, a 27-point lead is the most significant discrepancy between the two teams. Nic and the Nets want to win the season series and continue to chase the Hawks in the tenth seed.
A motivated Nets team will be a challenging opponent
The Nets thrive whenever they’re the underdog because they play with a unique energy amidst doubt. That’s good for Coach Kevin Ollie, as he wants his team to keep playing like “hunters.”
With Claxton’s motivation at an all-time high, expect the Nets' defense to be a significant part of how they can win against Orlando. The Magic might have the better record, but the Nets already have two wins against them this season, which could be a confidence booster ahead of the game.
