Thomas earns late-game minutes
It’s fair to say that Cam Thomas needed to have a big game Thursday night against the Timberwolves.
At the pregame shootaround, Thomas described the way head coach Jacque Vaughn distributes fourth-quarter minutes as “random” rather than based on the first three quarters’ performances, maybe adding slight tension between the guard and coach, who defended that he has always been clear it’s “performance-based.”
“I think I’ve been pretty clear whether that was the beginning of the year. I said that this group more than likely will be in a lot of close games,” Vaughn said before the game. “And that’s kind of panned out. I might have said that in preseason. And then I’ve also said to the group, individually and as a whole, that some guys will start and not finish, some guys will finish and not start. It’s just how this group is built. And I think you can go back to preseason, also, and say that I’ve always said this will be performance-based.
“And it’s as simple as that.
The only guy that’s finished the game that has started has been Mikal [Bridges]. So, I think that’s pretty fair. My honesty to the group. Dorian [Finney-Smith], [Cam Johnson], [Thomas], Royce [O’Neale], Spencer [Dinwiddie], Dennis [Smith Jr.], have all been a part of that. So, I’ve been pretty honest and open. That’s how I operate with the group, individually and as a whole.”
Thomas’ answer, before the 96-94 heartbreaking loss to Minnesota after a foul-shooting blunder by Bridges, was likely out of frustration as the Nets had dropped 11 of their prior 13 games. Four of the last five games were given away in the fourth quarter.
Yet, any tension washed away in Thomas’ 28 minutes Thursday, including a good chunk of the second quarter when was the sole Net to score, tallying nine of his 25 points before he was taken out with 5:32 remaining and the game tied, 40-40. Nic Claxton eventually found a shot at the 3:24 mark.
The substitution at that time was questionable, despite the two turnovers Thomas had already. But the third-year guard carried a heavy load again in the fourth quarter, drawing fouls and making six free throws to help the Nets almost close out the game against the NBA’s best defensive team.
“I think I know I had read him for a nice stretch,” Vaughn said. “And so a lot of times it’s gonna be, I don’t like running guys 13 minutes straight. Even tonight. I didn’t do that with Mikal . ... It’s just hard to do in this league if you want an effort on both ends of the floor.
“But Cam was great for us. Ten free throws for him, to get to the line, get downhill against [Rudy] Gobert at the rim. His ability to shot make for us. So some really good signs, man, from this group.”
Thomas has found a different spot in the rotation from the one he had before Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving packed their bags last season, and has given strong performances in the last four games despite the Nets’ continuous struggles.
In those games, he’s averaged 23 points over just 27.4 minutes per game and is shooting a blistering 55.7 percent from the field. With the new role, it seems the confidence to take more shots has come with it. He has more than doubled his shot average from last season, turning eight attempts per game in 2022-23 into 17 this year.
He also has taken more 3-pointers this year, averaging 5.4 per game against 2.3 attempts last season. However, his 3-point percentage has dropped to 34.4 percent as opposed to 38.3 percent last year.
The Nets will need Thomas to keep up his performance and improve his outside shot as they continue to fall short in finding wins, having lost their fifth game in the last six that came down to the final quarter.
“He can score by will,” Bridges said. “He just keeps going and we needed it.”