Nets lack of big men is forcing Ben Simmons out of his comfort zone

Right now, the Nets have a big problem.As in: They don’t have any big men.The only two centers on the roster — starter Nic Claxton and backup Day’Ron Sharpe — are sidelined, injured and unavailable.

Both will miss Tuesday’s NBA Cup tilt at Barclays Center against the visiting Hornets.Sharpe hasn’t played all season due to a strained left hamstring, and the status of Claxton’s lower back strain that required an epidural isn’t expected to even be updated until the end of the week.Their returns won’t come a moment too soon for the undermanned and undersized Nets, who’ve dropped five of six.“We didn’t have one center.

Obviously, it’s always good to have Nic, it’s always good to have Day’Ron, because they’ve got great attitudes, they’ve got great energy, and they just help the team,” coach Jordi Fernandez said.“The reality is this is part of the NBA.

Guys will be out.The good thing is it’s not major injuries.

They’ll be back soon, and when they’re back, we’ll be happy to have them back.But right now, this is our reality, and we’ll find a way to play.”Their absence has had a trickle-down effect.It has not only left the Nets vulnerable on the boards and in the paint, but also taken Ben Simmons out of the one position in which he’s comfortable and forced him to play somewhere he’s clearly ineffective.Noah Clowney, still just 20 and stringy, has added some muscle but still isn’t physically ready to defend centers.

The 6-foot-9, 230-pounder got bullied out of the way multiple times Sunday against the Knicks by Karl-Anthony Towns.Simmons is an inch taller, 10 pounds heavier and has started at center both in Claxton’s current absence and also earlier in the season when a hamstring injury had Claxton under a strict minutes limit.But the Nets — a poor-rebounding, small-ball squad under the best of circumstances — have struggled on the glass the past two games without Claxton.“We’ve got to box out more, find ou...