Brooklyn fillets head coach Jordi Fernandez scored a aim for Cam Thomas this season: He needed to assist the fourth-year guard be more practical offensively, on and off the ball. Over the course of two preseason video games, Thomas has proven enchancment on this division.
The 22-year-old put up a formidable offensive efficiency in a 131-92 win over the Washington Wizards on Monday. He scored 17 factors on 7-of-13 capturing from the sphere and 2-of-4 from three. The screening comes after Thomas scored 12 factors on 5 pictures throughout Brooklyn’s preseason first sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Clippers.
“I simply exit and run extra, get quite a bit simpler pictures,” Thomas stated after the win. “I simply play with the ball somewhat bit and shoot the catch-and-shoot pictures which might be given to me. Clearly in some unspecified time in the future I am going to have the ability to create and execute a whole lot of the sport one-on-one, as a result of typically that is what the sport calls for. However proper now, I am simply attempting to play throughout the offense and discover my spots. I did that, I made my pictures and I executed them very effectively.
Thomas obtained a lift from a number of of his Nets teammates all through the decisive victory.
Cam Thomas and Ben Simmons leads the Nets within the explosion of the Wizards
Ben Simmons additionally impressed in opposition to Washington after a quiet night time in opposition to the Clippers. The three-time All-Star had 11 factors, 5 rebounds and two assists on 5-of-7 capturing in 13 minutes.
Simmons was aggressive from the beginning in Brooklyn’s five-and-out assault with out Nic Claxton. He drove to the basket 3 times within the sport’s first two possessions, leading to two straightforward layups.
This pre-season marks Simmons’ first sport in over seven months after present process again surgical procedure in Could. With two performances beneath his belt, the 28-year-old stated he feels 100% bodily heading into the common season. Fernandez stated Simmons’ restricted minutes in opposition to Washington had been a part of a return-to-play development, though he meant to play him extra.
“We had a plan for him,” the coach stated. “When you have got again surgical procedure, it’s good to put together and take it step-by-step so your physique can adapt. Actual minutes won’t ever be reproduced wherever, even when you apply. You do not have the followers, you do not have the officers. This accumulation should subsequently have which means. We now have guys working right here with us, our efficiency and medical groups who’re actually good at what they do. I take heed to what they’ve to inform us.
“We had a plan that he ought to have performed extra minutes. The explanation he solely performed a minute greater than the final sport is as a result of I made a mistake. It ought to have lasted extra minutes on this first half.
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Sophomores Noah Clowney and Jalen Wilson had been additionally brilliant spots within the win. Clowney had 11 factors, two rebounds, three assists and two steals on 5 of seven capturing. Wilson added 14 factors, three rebounds and two assists on 4 of 9 capturing from the sphere, 2 of 4 from three and 4 of seven from the free throw line.
Clowney is poised for an expanded function after a promising rookie marketing campaign, whereas Wilson might be in competition for a rotation spot after incomes MVP honors throughout this 12 months’s Summer time League.
Shake Milton had 16 factors and three assists on 6-of-7 capturing from the bench. The veteran guard joined the Nets in a sign-and-trade with the New York Knicks as a part of Brooklyn’s return for Mikal Bridges.
The Nets will proceed their preseason motion on Wednesday with a street matchup in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers.
