Nets to get boost on shooting front with Cam Thomas’ imminent return
The Nets have been going through one of the league’s worst shooting funks over the past few weeks. But they say the impending return of Cam Thomas is about to change all that.
Thomas hasn’t played since Jan. 2, missing the past 20 games with a left hamstring injury.
But he’s expected to go five-on-five for the first time Thursday before the Nets host Cleveland, meaning he could suit up sooner rather than later.
“We’re excited to have him play here in house, five-on-five,” coach Jordi Fernández said. [We’ll] see how he feels, and then keep going from there.”
Where Thomas would go next is a return to live action.
He has only played twice since Nov. 25 at Golden State, plagued by hamstring woes. And his offense has been sorely missed.
“We know he does offensively so, there’s no question. We all know exactly what Cam Thomas is going to do when he gets back out there. I think all our offensive struggles will come to an end as soon as he steps foot out there,” said Trendon Watford, who has been teammates with Damian Lillard and calls Thomas the best bucket-getter he’s ever played with.
“Probably No. 1 on my list. I played with Dame. [CT’s] probably No. 1. The way he can score, it’s different. He can get to the line, manipulate the defense, he’s definitely one of the best scorers in the league. … We know what CT does. CT gets to it.”
The Nets went into the All-Star break having won six of seven, despite having the NBA’s seventh-worst Offensive Rating in that span.
Thomas is averaging a team-high 24.7 points, and would combine with Cam Johnson to give the Nets a potent one-two punch once he gets reintegrated.
“It’s always a process, but I just see it as a positive. He was so impactful and so good for the group, and I always see it as a positive,” Fernández said. “We’ve had so many different lineups, and when you bring somebody as talented as he is, it’s just positive … we just know he’s going to make us better.”
Thomas went down just as D’Angelo Russell was arriving in a trade, and they logged just five minutes together in the Jan. 2 win at Milwaukee.
“I know how [he plays]. I know what he’s capable of. So, as far as trying to share the court, it’s just figuring out ways to keep complementing his game and putting him in a position to do what he does,” Russell said. “It’s great. We need him. Before the break, we were battling injuries; we’re a little refreshed now. So to get him back into the rotation, it’s just an extra boost for us, for sure.”
Keon Johnson has been starting in lieu of Thomas. The return of Thomas is looming, and a huge lift for a team suddenly in the play-in hunt.
