MINNEAPOLIS – Cam Thomas is finally making his Nets return.
But he’s coming back to another Nets team. And he will have to change with it.
After being out nearly eight weeks with a left hamstring strain, Thomas will play for the Timberwolves on Saturday. It will be the 24-year-old’s first upset appearance since suffering the injury on November 5 at Indiana.
“Yes, CT is expected to play,” said Jordi Fernández. “It’s just how he feels, and no pressure. I still feel like he’s doing what he’s doing. He’s done a good job of getting himself back in shape and healthy, and we just want to see his superpowers. So there’s no pressure on him to have to do too much; just be yourself and help the team compete and get a win.”
That would be a first this season. The Nets were 0-7 with Thomas on the floor, 0-7 in the Pacers tilt where he was injured just minutes after tip-off.
Brooklyn was on pace for the worst defensive rating in history (128.5), but in Thomas’ absence they are 9-12 with the sixth-best defensive rating (111.7).
Did seeing that turnaround light a fire under him to be a part of it?
“I just want to get back on the field and play,” Thomas said. “It’s obviously good to see them playing well. I just want to get back on the field and play.”
The Nets’ point differential per 100 possessions is 10.7 better without Thomas, in just the 10th percentile, according to Cleaning The Glass. They were 11.7 points better on defense, putting him in just the third percentile.
Long, variable defense and egalitarian offense have worked. And Fernández emphasizes that Thomas not only can adapt, but must.
“I just want him to balance his scoring ability with his playing ability. That means he not only creates points for himself, but also points for others. If he does that, that’s what the team needs from him,” said Fernández. “I saw it before he got hurt.
“Last year, the game in Chicago and Cleveland, he had excellent games where he scored at a high level, but also assisted at a high level. So that’s what I want from CT: to have an impact on the game at every level. I want him to be solid defensively, a good defender, a great playmaker and a great, efficient scorer. He’s more than capable of doing all three of those things. If he doesn’t, then I’m going to have to sit down with him and try to help him get there.”
That March 13 tilt in Chicago was Thomas’ last before he was sidelined by a third hamstring injury. He dished out a career-high 10 assists that night. Can he apply the lessons learned to his upcoming return?
“I don’t know, we’ll see,” Thomas said. “I don’t go looking for assists, assists or stats. I go out to play the game, to win. So we’ll see how that goes.”
Thomas’ gravity can attract double teams. But can he play less iso and swing the ball quickly? His average dribbles per touch (3.67) is second-highest on the Nets. Michael Porter Jr. – who has emerged as an efficient center – is in third place.
Can Thomas adapt? The Nets – and scouts around the league – will find out soon.
“Every team adapts when a certain player goes down,” Thomas said. “We’ll figure it out. Just go out there and play ball. It’s not rocket science. We’ll just go out there, find out who’s out there together and figure out how to play with each other.”
“It’s been a while. … Obviously it’s going to be a learning curve for a few games, but we’ll figure it out soon. We’re pros, we’ll figure it out. So, we’re just going to get back on the court and play, figure it out and just try to keep piling up the wins.”
The figuring out part will be fascinating to watch.
“That’s more of a coaching question. Guys are trying to fit in where they’re going, that’s not my job. I’m doing my best to do my job. I leave that part up to them,” teammate Noah Clowney said. “Obviously his goal-scoring ability is second to none. So having a goal scorer like that – someone who has also grown as a playmaker – makes it easier for everyone.”
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