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Showing posts with label cam thomas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cam thomas. Show all posts

Nets disrespected in latest NBA Power Rankings



 NBA.com released its Week 7 Power Rankings, and while the Brooklyn Nets jumped up three spots, their place in the league pecking order seems somewhat disrespectful.

The league webpage cites, Ben Simmons' injury status and all the inferior teams the Nets have beat on the schedule as reasons as to why they landed where they did at No. 19 overall. 

The Warriors and Clippers, respectively, are ranked just ahead of the Nets despite both clubs fashioning sub .500 records. 

Jacque Vaughn and crew will gladly take this recent slight as motivation to fuel the remainder of the campaign. 

While Brooklyn might not be ready to mix it up with the heavy weight title contenders, the emergence of Cam Thomas, the continued development of Mikal Bridges as a option 1B. and a supporting cast that runs nine deep and can shoot the lights, make the Nets a team to watch.


 

One interesting note from the NBA.com piece is that the Nets are 10-1 when they surrender less than 120 points this season with their only loss coming on opening night to Cleveland. 

The Nets prolific offensive scoring was not something on many pundits radar as the team is littered with outstanding individual defenders, but that has taken a backseat to a run and gun offensive system predicated on volume threes. 

Brooklyn's schedule gets a bit tougher over the next nine games as they play eight on the road including a West Coast swing in Sacramento, Phoenix, Denver, Golden State and Utah before coming home December 20 to play host to the Knicks. 

If the Nets are able to tread water of this tough stretch, they may continue to slowly climb up the Power Rankings ladder.   


Nets commit unforgivable coaching gaffe in lackluster loss to Hornets

 


Cam Thomas returned to the Nets on Thursday night after missing the last nine games with an ankle sprain. 

The Brooklyn Nets indicated that Thomas would be on a minutes restriction, but with Brooklyn stuck in a tight contest with Charlotte down the stretch, Thomas was not on the court for the most important minutes. 

Thomas poured in 26 points in 25 minutes, but the Nets lost 129-128 as Cam Johnson missed an open 3-pointer just before the buzzer sounded.

It's incomprehensible how the coaching staff prevented its best player from being on the floor in clutch minutes and with the game on the line.

Even if Thomas was limited to 25 minutes, the coaching staff should have budgeted the minutes to allow him to be on the court for the final five minutes. 

The Nets paid the ultimate price as they were handed a loss and denied their fourth win in a row. 

Nets have a buying or selling conundrum ahead of the deadline



 The Brooklyn Nets currently sit at a record of 9-8 and in tenth place in a crowded Eastern Conference. The team is exceeding expectations and will be getting leading scorer Cam Thomas back in the lineup on Thursday night after he missed the last nine games because he suffered an ankle injury. 

The Nets are not quite ready to compete with the heavyweights in Boston, Milwaukee or Philadelphia, but find themselves in a mix with about a half dozen other teams looking to make the next jump in the conference. 

So as Sean Marks looks to maintain roster flexibility with one eye on building a contender and the other on stockpiling young assets, he's faced with a bit of a crossroads for this Brooklyn squad.

The Nets have four key players who will become free agents after this season including: Nic Claxton, Royce O'Neale, Lonnie Walker IV, Spencer Dinwiddie, Dennis Smith Jr. and Harry Giles. Marks has bird rights for Dinwiddie, Claxton and O'Neale and each can play a critical role for a true contender this year. The return for any of those respective players would also be significant with first round picks not being out of the question.

Even Dorian Finney-Smith, with years remaining on his contract has been rumored to be a player multiple teams are interested in for a first round pick.  

Marks will need to evaluate which of those names are candidates to remain with the core of the team as they develop the young player and build a contender for the future. Since Marks doesn't want players to walk after the year without receiving anything in return, he'll need to walk the GM tightrope. 

Could the Nets get a top 5 seed in the East and pull an upset against Cleveland, New York, Indiana, Orlando or even Miami? 

It's absolutely possible, but how much would the prospect of a potential first round playoff upset and likely second round exit change the calculus for Marks to hold on to multiple pending unrestricted free agents? 

On the flipside, should the Nets go big game hunting at the deadline or in the offseason?

 Brooklyn is only 17 games into the season, but as it draws near the midway point of the year, fans and the front office will have a better indication of where this team is headed, what pieces to keep, what pieces to send out and what additional talent they can bring on the roster to get the Nets back into contending status. 

Key player on Nets injury report won't be back anytime soon

 


A look up and down the Nets injury report and you'd strain your neck and eyes trying to read all the names.

From Cam Thomas' sprained ankle to Ben Simmons's nerve impingement in his lower back, Brooklyn has been banged up this early season. t

While it looks like the teams leading scorer will be back sooner than later, the team's  leading assist man won't be back as fast.

Thomas has resumed basketball activities and isn't scheduled for any further MRIs or imaging on his injured ankle.

Simmons, however, will still need to rehab his injured back, and is not cleared to practice.

Given Simmons injury history and specifically his surgically repaired back, the Nets could be without their starting point guard for the foreseeable future.

Nets can't hold their breath hoping Ben Simmons returns healthy




When healthy, Ben Simmons is a difference-maker. A 6-foot-10 point guard who can race out on fastbreaks and find teammates for open shots. He's a lockdown defender and while his offensive game leaves a lot to be desired, he's an impactful starter when he can stay on the court. 

The only problem is, when the Nets traded James Harden to Philadelphia for a package revolving around Simmons, they didn't get the All-Star level point guard, but a physically compromised and mentally taxed version of him.  

Simmons never saw meaningful minutes when Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were on the team  and Sean Mark's vision of forming a new big three after the departure of Harden went by the wayside. 

Simmons underwent back surgery in the 2022 offseason and returned for the 2022-23 season, still looking sluggish and not fully healthy. The Nets shut him down 42 games into the last campaign and were hopeful that the 2023-24 campaign would mark a breakout season for the former All-Star. 

Things looked promising early, but once again an injury has Simmons sidelined and set to be revaluated in two weeks after a nerve issue cropped up in his back. 

Nets fans have been on this rollercoaster journey with Simmons and the Nets medical staff before. For Brooklyn, anything Simmons adds this year will be a bonus, but the organization cannot put its trust and faith fully in the idea of him returning to full health this season, if not ever. 

Marks needs to look to the free agent market to look for backup point guards and utlize the veteran savvy of floor general Spencer Dinwiddie to  lead the way. Led by emerging star Cam Thomas, borderline All-Star Mikal Bridges and a team that runs nine deep including a supporting cast of Lonnie Walker, Dennis Smith Jr,, Dorrian Finney-Smith and others, Brooklyn is in a good position.

If Simmons is able to get back on to the court and make the impact he did early this season pushing the pace in the open floor, then great, but Nets fans shouldn't be holding their breath. 

Nets latest playoff odds revealed

 


The Brooklyn Nets currently sit at a record of 5-5 after navigating an extremely challenging early season schedule featuring the likes of Boston, Milwaukee, Miami and Dallas.

According to, Basketball-Reference.com, the Nets have a 63.6 % chance of making the playoffs this season.

Before the season started, most Nets fans wanted to see the emergence of Cam Thomas, Nic Claxton and continued ascension of Mikal Bridges into stardom along with a top 6 spot in a crowded East.

That could be exactly where things are headed as the Nets survived a woeful shooting performance against the lowly Wizards on Sunday.

Brooklyn takes on a resurgent Magic team at Barclays Center on Tuesday in NBA's farce of a In-Season Tournament.

Nets could add two-time Finals MVP if his super team flops

February's trade deadline is sure to be compelling. 

With superstars changing teams as frequently as ever, there's an outside chance the Nets could be on the receiving end of another mega-deal.

 The Los Angeles Clippers have stocked up on talent, albeit aged and oft injured talent that has yet to mesh together. 

 With Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Kwahi Leonard and Paul George joining forces, the Clippers have a formidable roster on paper. 

 However, things have been far from rosey since trading for Harden as The Clippers have lost all three games he's played with them and four overall. Los Angeles sits at 3-5 in a conference loaded with championship hopefuls including the: Nuggets, Lakers, Warriors and Mavericks.

 Should things continue to spiral out of control, Leonard may look to get out of LA and the organization's feelings may be mutual for a player who's been injured, more than he's played.

The Nets are a true proven star away from being a true force in the East and while Leonard comes with his share of injury baggage and isn't exactly a larger than life personality, his track record as a big time playoff performer is unquestioned. 

Mikal Bridges hits career low in this statistical category


Mikal Bridges is the NBA's Iron Man. With 401 consecutive games played and a summer full of FIBA competition in the Philippines, Brooklyn's small forward doesn't have the words "load management" in his vocabulary. 

 Bridges has shot a dismal 29.3 percent from long range. Whether this is a mini slump, a cumulative effect from not missing any time during the season or this summer or a combination of both, it's something Nets fans will keep an eye on. 

 It's only nine games into the season, but without Cam Thomas, Nic Claxton and Ben Simmons in the lineup on Friday against the defending Eastern Conference Champion Celtics, Bridges produced just 12 points on 4 of 11 from the field and 1 for 6 from 3-point range. 

 It's such a small sample size to draw any definitive conclusions but if the Nets hope you tread water without three starters, Bridges will need to play like the star he showed he can be in the second half of the 2022-23 season when he was the return package for Kevin Durant.

Cam Thomas injury latest example Nets can't have nice things

 Cam Thomas hasn't just been good for the Brooklyn Nets this season, he's been historically good. 



So, with the Nets in cloud nine watching a budding 22-year old superstar blooming before their very eyes, the franchise standout fell on tough luck on Wednesday night against the Clippers.

 Thomas turned his left ankle in the first half of the Nets eventual win over Los Angeles as he attempted to dribble around PJ Tucker. The Nets have indicated that Thomas will be revaluated in two weeks and an MRI revealed an ankle sprain.

 After a drama filled few seasons with mercurial superstars James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant all asking to be traded, Nets World was gearing up to enjoy a homegrown franchise cornerstone help make a playoff push. 

 The Nets have been a snake bitten franchise and this injury setback is just the latest example.

Simmons' late game blunder nearly costs Nets a win in Chicago

 



The Brooklyn Nets have won three in a row after a thrilling 109-107 victory in Chicago.

Dorian Finney-Smith dropped 21, Mikal Bridges 20 and Cam Thomas 17 as Brooklyn withstood a late charge by the Bulls and climbed aver the .500 mark on the season at 3-2.

Meanwhile, Ben Simmons had 8 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists, while going 4 for 8 from the field. 

The highly scrutinized point center has been contributing in the intangible department and  looks healthier than he ever has been in a Nets uniform. However, the Nets 6-foot-10 playmaker is not attacking the paint and rim with regularity.


Simmons made a baffling move in the closing seconds of the game on Friday night, not on offense, but on the defensive side of the ball.

 As Zach Levine his second free three attempt, Simmons inexplicably batted the ball out beyond the 3-point line instead of grabbing the board and gave Levine an open look for a potential game winner.

Luckily for Simmons and the Nets, Levine's shot clanked off the iron and out, but it was too close for comfort.

Simmons has been a bit of a liability in late game situations due to his poor free throw shooting, questionable decision making and costly turnovers. Brooklyn is hoping Simmons continues to gain confidence as the Nets are one of the surprise stories in the NBA so far this season.

Nets Halloween costume idea honors Cam Thomas

 


The Brooklyn Nets have officially unleashed Cam Thomas and the results have been nothing short of spectacular. In fact, Thomas' scoring output has been downright historic.

 So when the Brooklyn Nets tweeted about their young shooting guard's performance around spooky season, it definitely drew a few laughs!




 

 Thomas is one of the league's most exciting young players and if he keeps anything close to this pace up, it will be hard to deny him an All-Star bid come February. 

NBA's leading scorer doesn't even start for Nets

 


The Brooklyn Nets can proudly boast they have the highest scoring player in the league, albeit after just one game. 

That's right, Cam Thomas with his 36-point outburst off the bench has earned the top scorer designation.

Thomas' 36 is the most points scored in a season opener by a player off the bench in NBA history.

Thomas became the first Net since Cliff T. Robinson scored 45 on March 9, 1980, to score more than 40 points of the bench last year on February 4, 2023 against the Wizards when he dropped 44. 

Thomas' minutes have been a major talking point at the start of the season as head coach Jacque Vaughn refused to play the talented scorer for any significant minutes in last year's playoffs sweep at the hands of the Sixers.

Thomas looks to have a more integral role and now the challenge remains how will Vaughn avoid a second straight loss when Brooklyn visits Kyrie Irving in Dallas on Friday. 



Cam Thomas drops 36, Simmons just 4 in Nets' tough opening loss

 


Ben Simmons looked primed for an All-Star campaign in the preseason, then the regular season hit. Simmons tallied four points, nine assists and ten rebounds in 23 minutes. 

Cam Thomas poured in 36 points in 25 minutes but missed the potential game winner as Brooklyn squandered a six point lead with 90 seconds left. 

The Nets looked out of sorts offensively and lacsadaisical defensively in the first quarter as they surrendered 37 points in the opening period to the Cavaliers.


Mikal Bridges added 20, but was not the focal point of Brooklyn's offense. 

Simmons only attempted six shots and converted two, looking reluctant to even look at the basket. The Nets committed 17 turnovers as the sloppy play from the preseason carried over to the opener. 

Jacque Vaughn told reporters following the game that the goal as far as minutes distribution is to get each rotation guy 30 minutes per game. 

As Vaughn tinkers with lineups, it's undeniable the Nets have a flawed offensive roster and when they come out without a willingness to defend like they did at the beginning of this game, they don't stand much of a chance. 

Brooklyn will play in Dallas on Friday against friend turned foe Kyrie Irving. 



Dražen Petrović would have been 59 today

 


An unthinkable tragedy took place on June 7, 1993, as Dražen Petrović's life was lost in an auto accident on the rain-soaked Autobahn 9 in Bavaria. 

The Croatian sensation left an indelible mark on the Nets franchise and electrify the NBA during an era in which European players were starting to make their mark in the league.

Petrović was just 29 at the time and merely scratching the surface on his superstardom.

The Brooklyn Nets retired Dražen's No. 3 Jersey in the rafters at then -Meadowlands Arena, and it currently hangs at Barclays Center.

Widely regarded as the best shooter and arguably the purest scorer of his era, his memory lives on and continues to inspire a new generation of European born players to carry the torch and make their impact felt in the NBA. 

Ben Simmons shows off $13M Brooklyn home to Esquire Australia

 


Ben Simmons is due to make $35.45 million in 2023 and the Brooklyn Nets point guard is making sure he lives large in the borough. 

In an exclusive interview with Esquire Australia, Simmons gave a sneak peak into his life off the court.

Simmons calls home to the sprawling appartment within the Olympia building, situated in Brooklyn's Dumbo neighborhood. 

With a personal stylist, chef and luxury watch collection that would make even the most carefree person jealous, Simmons is soaking up the New York City lifestyle.


While, it's fun to see Simmons in his element and appearing to be settled into the borough of Brooklyn, many Nets fans think their point guard has quite a bit to prove this season.

Hampered by injuries the past two seasons, Simmons has been a shell of his former self and the butt of many jokes on social media for his inflated salary and inability to stay healthy.

All indications are that Simmons is, at least in part, back to his former All-Star form. 

Clearly, the Nets are committed to Simmons for at least the next two seasons and with a mass Exodus of superstars including James Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving the last few years, the fan base is hopeful that Simmons along with Mikal Bridges can ascend and bring star power back to Brooklyn.


Nets in for rude awakening with brutal early schedule

 


The Brooklyn Nets will have a hell of a time navigating a brutal first nine games of the regular season.

Despite Ben Simmons showing signs of his former All-Star form, Cam Thomas seeing his minutes expand under Jacque Vaughn and Nic Claxton continuing to develop into an All-NBA defender, the road ahead isn't exactly pretty.

The Nets open the season with tough opponents including: Cleveland, at Dallas, at Charlotte, at Miami, at Chicago, Boston, Milwaukee, Los Angeles Clippers and at Boston.

If there was ever a more daunting first nine games, I haven't seen it. Brooklyn will likely only be favored against Hornets. 

The Nets shouldn't be a bottom barrel team in the NBA this season with an ascending Mikal Bridges chasing his first All-Star bid, but the caliber of their opponents is undeniable.

Brooklyn's defense looked lackluster for the majority of its first four preseason games, Simmons committed 18 costly turnovers and Vaughn has yet to establish a go-to rotation or offensive system that can generate points for a roster that lacks consistent shot creators and makers.

It might be an steep uphill climb out of the gate, but it Nets can weather an early storm, they may stay relevant in the playoff picture.

Ben Simmons fails to score from field in Nets win over Heat



Ben Simmons has looked much improved this preseason but that wasn't the case on Wednesday night in Miami.

The Nets point guard went 0 for 4 from the field with just two points and four turnovers but added seven assists and eight rebounds. 

It was Simmons' second game in two nights, as he showed a reluctance to attack the basket with the same fervor and force he showed during the first three preseason games.

 
Brooklyn had five players reach double figures in scoring, including Lonnie Walker IV, who poured in a team high 22.

The Nets prevailed 107-104 in their final tune-up before the regular season opener as they host the Cavaliers next Wednesday, October 25.

Mikal Bridges appears in exclusive interview on TBS' "The Reel"

 



Mikal Bridges appeared the new TBS show, "The Reel with Kenny Beecham". The show made its debut on Monday, October 17th at midnight EST.

The episode explored Bridges interests beyond basketball as well as his basketball journey throughout the ranks to reach NBA stardom.

The interview is sure to delight Nets fans as Brooklyn's good guy is admired by fans and teammates alike. 

Stay tuned to TBS.com or other platforms to rewatch the interview as it becomes available. 

Mikal Bridges named ahead of ex-Net superstar on ESPN top 100 player rankings

According to ESPN's top 100 NBA player rankings, Nets small forward Mikal Bridges hits at No. 33 overall. Bridges, 27, is looking for his first All-Star nomination this upcoming season. Many argue that Bridges should be higher up the list but another Net turned Maverick actually fell behind Brooklyn's good guy. An 8-time All-Star, former Rookie of the Year and NBA champion, Kyrie Irving was named just behind Bridges at No. 34 overall. While it's worth debating if both players should be ranked higher, Bridges' best ability is his availability, as he played in 83 regular season games and all five playoff games last year. While Bridges has been an NBA Ironman, Irving has been quite the opposite. 

Irving missed games for a multitude of reasons ranging from personal to unexcused absences to injuries.

It's clear Brooklyn is in good hands with Bridges leading the charge. 

Ben Simmons reaches double digits in scoring in preseason debut

 


Ben Simmons made an early preseason statement, by looking as healthy as he's ever been since he donned a Nets uniform.

Brooklyn's, point guard opened the team's scoring with a smooth hook over LeBron James to set the tone for the night.

 

In 14 minutes, Simmons tallied ten points and three assists on 2 of 4 from the charity stripe. 



The Nets defense was about as casual as having a cup of coffee with an old friend, letting up 75 first half points against a starting five of James, Anthony Davis and DeAngelo Russell, Austin Reaves and Taurean Prince. 

Brooklyn fans anticipated the team being an elite defensive ball club, but the opening half of the preseason has to raise a ton of concerns for Jacque Vaughn and company. 


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