In two preseason games with the Nets, each had the right to a start. Royce O’Neale and Joe Harris are currently vying for the last spot in the starting five. Nic Claxton should indeed inherit the main pivot position alongside the local “Big Three”, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons. And according to the New York Postthe former Jazz player seems to be on track to join them in the five.
” Royce is going to be a great addition for us. An incredible IQ, a sense of the game, on both sides of the field. More than once it will bring harmony “, recently declared his coach, Steve Nash.
In any case, he has a choice to make. The newcomer is a pure “3&D” capable of defending in several positions and punishing behind the arc with consistency (38% in career). Joe Harris, he is reputed to be a little less good defender but is a much better attacker, and especially better shooter (44% in career).
But this one has an argument against him: he is recovering from a double ankle operation because of which he had only played 14 games last season. Advantage Royce O’Neale, then?
” Royce is one of those players you want on your team because he has a lot of experience. He has known many battles. He understands the nuances of the game and what it takes to win. They didn’t necessarily make it to Utah, but they were one of the most effective teams in the league offensively. And then defensively, you had to make an effort to deal with it “Judge Kyrie Irving, who had also broken his teeth on the Mormon defense last year (15 points to 6/20 on shots).
The team leader believes that the 29-year-old ” brings his intangible qualities to the team. We can use him on this wing as a defensive stopper – which we know he is – but also add a certain offensive dimension as a shooter. He moves well, plays well, having been in that system at Utah for a long time. Moving the ball around is something rooted in him. He adapts well. »
| Royce O’Neale | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2017-18 | UTH | 69 | 17 | 42.3 | 35.6 | 80.3 | 0.4 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 5.0 |
| 2018-19 | UTH | 82 | 20 | 47.5 | 38.6 | 76.2 | 0.3 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 5.2 |
| 2019-20 | UTH | 71 | 29 | 43.3 | 37.7 | 76.4 | 0.4 | 5.1 | 5.5 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 6.3 |
| 2020-21 | UTH | 71 | 32 | 44.4 | 38.5 | 84.8 | 1.2 | 5.6 | 6.8 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 7.0 |
| 2021-22 | UTH | 77 | 31 | 45.7 | 38.9 | 80.4 | 0.8 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 7.4 |
| Total | 370 | 26 | 44.8 | 38.1 | 79.6 | 0.6 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 6.2 | |
