DALLAS — Cam Thomas’ offense has always been top-tier. Now he’s done enough on defense to let that offense come to the fore.
The third-year guard has forced himself into a position where he has to play.
Now the only decision left for Brooklyn coach Jacque Vaughn is whether to replace somebody in the starting lineup once starters Nic Claxton and Cam Johnson return.
“He’s been rewarded for being locked-in, engaged. Being a great teammate on both sides of the basketball,” Vaughn said. “If you look back at the history with Cam [Thomas] and I, I’ve always had extreme confidence in him, and that’s continuing to grow.
“He is going to score the basketball and he has the ability to get to the rim. He has the ability to engage the defense and spray that thing also. He’s just grown as an individual. I’m glad I’m coaching him. We will continue to grow together.”
The young guard followed up a 36-point season opener with another 30 on Friday in Dallas, the first player in the Nets’ NBA history to top 30 in his first two games of the season.
“Yeah, young guy learning fast, learning on his feet. Got a ton of talent. Like I said before, he’s the best tough shot maker that we have on this roster. And so it’s great to see him continue to blossom,” said Spencer Dinwiddie, who praised Thomas’ late-game panache. “Of course. He’s proven that he can do it, and we’re going to continue to go to him when he’s making shots.”
Thomas entered Saturday as the fifth-leading scorer in the league behind Luka Doncic, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell and Steph Curry.
He’s the only player in the top 20 not logging at least 30 minutes, and his 62.5 shooting percentage is the best of anybody in the top 10.
Speaking of the aforementioned Johnson and Claxton, the Nets haven’t ruled either injured starter out for Monday’s game in Charlotte.
“We have not,” Vaughn said. “No, we have not. Both of those guys are really day-to-day, these 48 hours for them to get through the acute injury a little bit. We have not ruled them out.”
Johnson sat out Friday with a left calf contusion, Claxton with a left ankle sprain.
Ben Simmons had 10 points on 5-for-8 shooting against the Mavericks, with 10 rebounds, eight assists, two steals and two blocks.
More important, he was attacking downhill and putting pressure on the rim, unafraid of contact.
The concern is that his impressive performance came in a five-out lineup.
With Claxton hurt and burly backup Day’Ron Sharpe logging just four minutes, the Nets started 6-foot-7, 220-pound combo forward Dorian Finney-Smith as a smallball stretch five.
Vaughn has to figure a way to get the best out of Simmons with fellow non-shooter Claxton on the floor.
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