Inside The Nets

Jacque Vaughn on Cam Thomas' natural ability to break down defenses

Cam Thomas's 41-point showcase against the Warriors not only marked his return to form but also highlighted his elite ability to dismantle opposing defenses.
Marin Gabric|
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Brooklyn Nets

Cameron Thomas had a phenomenal performance against the Golden State Warriors, scoring 41 points. These came in different kinds of shots, including three-pointers, mid-range jump shots, and drives into the paint.

This performance was a return to form for Thomas to his early-season form before he injured his ankle. Head coach Jacque Vaughn was glad to see Thomas play well, as they've needed another go-to option alongside Mikal Bridges.

"Cam continues to step up to different challenges. Tonight, we needed him to score, and he did so. His ability to break down a defense is pretty elite," Jacque Vaughn said a few minutes after the game. "He's continuing to grow in different areas. He's seeing different defenses and he's learning from it. He's growing as a player."

An on-fire Thomas is good for the Nets

With this performance, Thomas looks like a solid number-one option again. He will most likely share those duties with Mikal Bridges, who has been stellar this season. 

This way, the floor opens for players like Cameron Johnson and Spencer Dinwiddie, offering more opportunities for open threes. Overcoming the struggle for diverse scoring, the Nets' offense flourishes with Mikal and Cam both in top form under Coach Vaughn.

Thomas is showing playmaking flashes too

Aside from his scoring, Cam is improving as a playmaker. While he only had two assists in the game against the Dubs, the LSU product proved that he could make the right play for the team. 

There was a particular play in this game when he made an awesome drop pass to Nic Claxton, who was waiting in the dunker's spot to score a much-needed easy basket.

Vaughn's emphasis on versatility. This successful approach, seen with Dinwiddie, will also benefit Cam, making him a key piece for the Nets and transforming the team with two elite scorers at the forefront.

Jacque Vaughn provides Ben Simmons' recovery update

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Marin Gabric
MARIN GABRIC

Marin's love for writing developed in high school but was furthered in college when he took a number of creative writing courses. Doing sports writing felt like an extremely natural continuation, as it furthered his passions in both writing and basketball.  Marin loves the feeling of looking at stats after a game and analyzing what each team could've done better or what they excel in compared to the rest of the league. And the ability to do so for his favorite team, the Brooklyn Nets, is quite special in itself. 

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