Two of the Nets’ stars have found their groove in big-point games as well as each other.
Mikal Bridges and Cam Thomas weren’t always on the same page at the beginning of the season. One will score a 30-40 point night, while the other won’t pop out in the box score.
But with Thomas in the starting lineup in place of Dorian Finney-Smith and Ben Simmons, who were sidelined with ankle sprains, they increased their point total in four games before Monday’s 109-98 loss to the Warriors. was completed. He was off the bench when he played.
In his new role, Thomas is averaging 31.8 points on 50 percent shooting from deep, significantly higher than the 20.5 points on 44 percent shooting he posted in his other 35 games.
Over that same span, Bridges averaged 24 points and shot 45.7 percent from the field. He was averaging 21.7 points in his past 44 games.
There wasn’t much scoring or offensive flow Monday night, but Thomas made 18 (4-of-21 shooting, including 0-of-6 from deep) and Bridges had 13 (5). However, the difference between the two was close. 1-of-15 from the field and 1-of-7 from 3-point range.
Bridges credits the continued reps with developing chemistry.
“Yeah, it’s just the right amount of time. I think it’s just a matter of spending time there. Honestly, I think this is just the beginning. There’s going to be more reps and more time,” Bridges said Monday. He spoke at the Nets’ shootaround before the loss. “But it was good. I think just having him in the starting lineup makes it easier. That’s where you have two guys and they have to worry about it. And it makes the offense easier.”
In the first three games of the season, Thomas scored 36, 30, and 33 points, while Bridges scored 20, 18, and 29 points, respectively.
Even more dramatic was the game against Atlanta on December 6th, when Bridges scored 32 points and Thomas added 6 points. Similarly, against the Trail Blazers on January 7, Bridges scored 42 points and Thomas added nine points.
“I mean, we knew them. They were great players, so we knew they would figure it out,” Royce O’Neal said Monday morning. “It just takes time. Cam is a great scorer. Mikal is a great scorer. I think they’re just finding the place and time to take advantage of the defense.”
The Nets were shorthanded against the Warriors and struggled with fatigue and the Warriors’ size, especially after Nic Claxton was ejected in the fourth quarter and Lonnie Walker IV left after five minutes with a strained left hamstring. Head coach Jacque Vaughn couldn’t do anything. Adjusting the bench.
He did not play Harry Giles III because he thought it would be “pretty demanding” to have to deal with a screen. Regarding not using Trendon Watford, Vaughn said he would prefer to have Dennis Smith Jr. back in the final minutes.
“We’re really going to take it one day at a time and try to win today’s game. That was the mindset behind it,” he said.
Bourne was unable to provide an update on Walker after the game.
Bourne said Simmons is scheduled to play Tuesday against the Mavericks after missing Monday’s game due to “injury maintenance.”
Finney-Smith (left ankle sprain) is still experiencing day-to-day symptoms and will not play Tuesday, Vaughn said.
