Nets Noah Clowney showing promising development with 3-point shot

Prior to tipoff on Wednesday, Nets coach Jordi Fernandez hoped his mere eight available players would make the minutes “meaningful” as some of them would likely not have the opportunity otherwise. While Noah Clowney had already solidified himself early in the rotation and recently in a starting role following the trade of Dorian Finney-Smith, he did exactly that in bringing to light an improved aspect of his game, with a career-high 29 points in the Nets’ 113-98 loss to the Pistons at Barclays Center. Clowney went 5-for-11 from beyond the arc, making it the second-most 3s he has made in a single game this season behind a 6-for-9 night against the Bucks on Dec.26. “What I like to call it is I like to keep teams honest.

I don’t like where teams have the ability to sag off of me because I’m a weak shooter,” Clowney said afterward.“I feel like that hurts my team in general.

So if I’m able to shoot the ball and I can keep somebody honest and keep the floor spaced for my guys to get in the lane, then that’s always been the goal.So after Bama, I think I shot 29 percent at Alabama, something like that, but I knew I could shoot.

I think other people knew I could shoot.Somebody took a chance, and here we are.” The second-year forward has grown more confident from deep recently. In his lone season at Alabama in 2022-23, Clowney shot 28.3 percent from 3-point range, attempting just 3.3 per game. This season, his attempts per game (5.3) have skyrocketed compared to his rookie year (1.4).

Additionally, his percentage from beyond the arc has jumped from 36.4 to 38.5. “I think anytime you have a good performance it’s good for your confidence because obviously you know what you can do, but when you do it at the highest level in the real games where it matters, it translated,” Clowney said.“So, yeah, it’s a good feeling.

It helps confidence, for sure.” Said Fernandez: “He’s showing us what he’s able to do.He’s showing us coaches...