Cam Thomas played basketball on Friday for the first time in nearly two months. And after making his long-awaited return against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Nets inserted a walking bucket back into their rotation at the perfect time.
Brooklyn entered the night 1½ games behind the Chicago Bulls for the 10th and final Play-In Tournament spot in the Eastern Conference. Thomas is the exact kind of offensive force needed for a late-season push.
However, after missing 24 straight games because of left hamstring strain, the Nets have no choice but to ease Thomas back into action. However, that didn’t stop them from throwing him back into the starting lineup against Portland.
“Excited to have him. Excited to push him to whatever his body is ready for now,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said. “To get to the real minutes, per se, it’s not going to happen right away because we have to be careful and cautious… We’re ready for him to perform in the minutes he can.”
Thomas, 23, has averaged 24.7 points, 3.4 assists and 3.2 rebounds across 19 games this season while shooting 44.8% from the field and 37.5% from 3-point range. Opposing defenses have to respect a player who puts up those kinds of numbers. And the gravity Thomas commands will create easier scoring opportunities for his teammates.
The Nets had an offensive rating of 115.7 with Thomas on the court this season. That rating dipped to 107.3 with him out.
“He’s a weapon and he’s capable of scoring in bunches,” Fernandez said. “And even if they double team him, then with the proper spacing, you can get a good shot… We also need him to be a playmaker, to be a defender.”
HEALTHIER BY THE GAME
With Thomas back in the rotation, the Nets are just a few pieces away from returning to full health.
De’Anthony Melton hasn’t appeared in any games since he was traded to the Nets in December and remains out for the season because of a left ACL tear. But other than him and the two-way guys, D’Angelo Russell (right ankle sprain) and Noah Clowney (left ankle sprain) are the last regular rotation players left on Brooklyn’s status report — and they’ll be back on the court soon.
Russell and Clowney are expected to return to practice and potentially see game action next week.
“It’s great to have healthy bodies and they bring the energy back,” Fernandez said. “But the reality is injuries are part of basketball. Obviously, you don’t want major injuries, but we have to have that next-man mentality. When we have everybody back it’s going to be even better because that creates healthy competition within the group.”
CLAXTON VS. SHARPE
Even after Day’Ron Sharpe‘s career night against the Oklahoma City Thunder earlier in the week, Fernandez made it clear that he has no plans starting him alongside Nic Claxton going forward. Claxton returned to the starting lineup on Friday after serving a one-game suspension in Wednesday’s loss. Sharpe returned to the bench.
“We expect them both to be the anchor of our defense,” Fernandez said. “One day it’s going to be Day’Ron playing more, Nic playing less, vice versa. I think, again, it goes back into the competition within the group. They’re both tag-teaming.”
Claxton and Sharpe logged just 10 minutes together this season entering Friday’s game. However, if Sharpe continues to showcase his ability to space the floor, that could change down the stretch.
“Can they play together? Yes, especially if Day’Ron is letting it fly like he did the other day with three 3s,” Fernandez said. “But again, this is not something I’m going to predetermine. I’m expecting them to play as hard as they can and compete against each other.”
