Nicolas Claxton is a unique player.
For most role players looking to contribute on an NBA contender, especially those looking to add value on the defensive end, instincts take precedence over “god-given” basketball talent. Commentators will applaud such players for being in the “right place, at the right time.”
One glance at Brooklyn’s roster and some examples will stick out immediately.
Blake Griffin at this point in his career has unarguably lost a step or two on defense. The former Slam Dunk champion leads the league in charges drawn per game not because of his imposing physicality or out-of-this-world length, but instead a knack for planting himself in front of a driving offensive player just in the nick of time.