Adam Armbrecht here, the host of the daily Locked On Nets podcast, with your daily Locked On Nets newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Nets and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Can Cam Thomas balance shooting efficiency and facilitation for the Brooklyn Nets?
Nov 1, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) goes to the basket as Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (44) defends during the second half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images|Vincent Carchietta/Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The Brooklyn Nets’ recent win over the Memphis Grizzlies has sparked a conversation about Cam Thomas and his evolving role on the team. Under the guidance of head coach Jordy Fernandez, Thomas is beginning to show signs of growth beyond his scoring capabilities. In the 106-104 Monday night win over the Memphis Grizzlies, Thomas had a season high six assists, a mark he has reached just eight times in his three plus year career. Coach Fernandez has also made a point to highlight “potential assists” of which he counted eight on the night for Thomas.
This serves as a reminder that players that execute the right way possession over possession can be evaluated independent of result. Thomas put teammates in excellent positions to score, and will need to value making the “right play” over individual scoring stats. This shift is crucial for the Nets as they aim to build a more versatile and dynamic team.
Head Coach Jordi Fernandez has provided candid and public feedback on all his players, and shows consistency in his messaging and expectations. The coach’s emphasis on ball distribution over pure scoring is a testament to his vision for a more balanced offensive team, and one that will not suffer the stagnation of previous years in Brooklyn.
One game will by no means tell us the whole story of the Nets season, or the new coaching expectations. It is still incredibly early in the season, and the Nets upcoming schedule will further flesh out the rosters ability to compete and play within the system regardless of matchups.
As a reminder, Cam Thomas has had anything but a linear start to his Nets career. His role has fluctuated, and the coaching instability in previous seasons hasn’t helped. However this season has a renewed hope for a more defined path. Thomas’s recent game against Memphis is a case in point. Despite an inefficient shooting night, his ability to contribute through assists was crucial. This adaptability is what the Nets need from Thomas. The challenge now is consistency. Can Thomas maintain this dual-threat capability throughout the season?
The numbers tell a story of their own. Thomas’s shooting percentages have dipped recently, but this could be a byproduct of his evolving role. As he focuses more on facilitating, it’s natural for his scoring efficiency to fluctuate. The key is finding a balance where he can be both a scorer and a playmaker.
This dual capability is what separates good players from great ones. Can Thomas score 30+ points a night? Of course, and there will be night when Thomas needs to score a ton for Brooklyn to stay in games. Being a 20 point, five rebound, seven assist player on lower-volume and higher percentages however, likely puts more wins on the board. The potential is there, and with Fernandez’s guidance, the Nets might just unlock a new dimension in Thomas’s game.
For more insights and a deeper dive into Cam Thomas’s evolving role and the Brooklyn Nets’ strategies, tune into the Locked On Nets podcast for this and much more.
Sports fandom has long been a vehicle of escape, basketball fandom perhaps even more so. If you’re someone who toggles between NBA and WNBA, then you’ll never have a break in games you can escape into. If you’re purely an NBA watcher, then the league has done its willful best to make its product one that runs all year round, even if the games themselves take a break. If you’re even a little online then you can find something NBA-related to get excited/upset/anxious/overworked about any day the year, even in the deepest dregs of August.
Escapism is fine as a temporary measure. There’s no person alive that doesn’t seek it out in some shape or form, sometime. In basketball fandom the dangers of treating the game, and the people who play it, as a pure means of escape run fairly parallel to the dangers of this political moment.
To lose sight of the humanity of athletes, to range on the spectrum of othering to nullification of their personhood; to assume a franchise has only your interests as its sole, driving concern. To put so much stake into the outcome of a game, a season, that anything outside of pure dominance and control is considered failure. To take on defeat as a personality trait and grow miserable, hostile, blame serving both as vitriolic release and an easy balm.
This is perhaps a clumsy attempt to address the U.S. election results last night in a newsletter about NBA basketball, but it seemed a perfect encapsulation of my point of blind escapism to write about OKC’s pestering defence, or Joel Embiid’s three game suspension after shoving a reporter, and make no mention of Donald Trump’s second ascension.
Basketball isn’t apolitical. No sport is, but the NBA hasn’t been for a long time. Shut up and dribble, stop-work protests in the Orlando Bubble led by athletes personally the target of police brutality, taking a knee. Even when it isn’t trying to be, it is, because it’s a game played by people and beyond that, predominantly Black men. In October 1979, when the Knicks paired their roster from 13 players down to 11 — a move required by league regulation — media and fans jumped on the move because the remaining team became the first all Black roster in the league. “White people have to have white heroes,” Cavs owner, Ted Stepien said at the time, “I myself can’t equate to Black heroes, I’ll be truthful. I respect them, but I need white people.”
Being the target of someone’s desire for escapism can be enough to turn something from the political to the personal, and vice versa. We’re seeing a new iteration of it now with the rise of sports betting and the blurring of boundaries between athletes and fans, but Kareem Abdul-Jabbar saw and put it succinctly in the early 1970s. “Out there, you’re a vector for all the hostility in the stands,” he said.
As a conduit for escape, there are no political prerequisites. Fandom isn’t barred from you based on your voting patterns. There may be an urge now, regardless of how you hoped (even as an observer, as I am) this election ended up, to burrow into basketball as escape, almost as a reflexive action. The distinct humanitarian fracturing at play not only in this election but on a global scale, this onus of “us vs.them”, or blame over solution (blame as solution), the narrowing of scope to only have your own interests at heart, is all a symptom of escapism. Just as it’s crucial as an engaged fan to not lose sight of an athlete’s personhood, the same goes, albeit on a decidedly more critical scale, in the wider world.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Must Read Over the years, the NBA has learned to embrace activism and social justice. Read more. (TIME)
Legacy Reflecting on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s impact — here’s how he changed the rules for Black athletes. (National Endowment for the Humanities)
Analysis How did Sterling Brown get the NBA to listen to its players? (The Daily Beast)
Trade The Brooklyn Nets are seeking additional draft picks to bolster future trade flexibility, aiming to improve long-term strategy. (Sports Illustrated)
Draft Potential No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg impresses in Duke’s season opener. (Sports Illustrated)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Basketball Replacements For Jeremy Sochan & Aaron Gordon
Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (8) reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Ball Arena.|Photo by Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
As we gear up for another action-packed Wednesday with 12 NBA games, it’s crucial to stay updated on player statuses and potential fantasy basketball moves. Injuries are shaking up lineups, and knowing who to add or drop can make all the difference in your fantasy league.
Key Injuries and Player Additions
Aaron Gordon’s calf strain is a significant blow, sidelining him for an estimated four weeks. This opens up opportunities for Peyton Watson, who is expected to see increased minutes, making him a valuable addition to your roster. Julian Strawther might also benefit, but Watson is the priority pick.
Jeremy Sochan’s thumb fracture is another long-term injury, likely keeping him out for six to eight weeks. In his absence, Julian Champagnie emerges as a strong candidate for increased playing time. While Keldon Johnson might be a points league preference, Champagnie is a solid choice across formats.
Nick Richards is dealing with fractured rib cartilage, sidelining him for at least two weeks. With Mark Williams also out, the Hornets will likely start Taj Gibson, but he’s not a recommended fantasy add. Instead, keep an eye on Grant Williams, who could be a viable option in deeper leagues.
Game Previews and Strategic Considerations
The Detroit Pistons face the Charlotte Hornets, with the Hornets slightly favoured. Jalen Duren’s recent performances have been promising, but his minutes might be capped, allowing Isaiah Stewart to continue his role as a backup centre. Stewart’s current role suits him well, and he’s performing admirably in it.
For the Charlotte Hornets, LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller’s dynamics are worth monitoring. Ball’s interactions with Charles Lee and Miller’s reduced minutes and shooting are areas of concern. Miles Bridges’ performance has been underwhelming, but improvement is expected.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Nets podcasts.
Brooklyn Nets beat the Grizzlies! Is the tank in trouble? The Brooklyn Nets beat the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday in another wild game. The Nets are now 4-4 on the season with the fifth best point differential in the Eastern Conference. Wild times indeed.
Nets lose to Pistons. Cam Thomas needs more assists, Ben Simmons needs more shots, and more
The Nets lost to the Pistons on Sunday after jumping out to a big lead early. Is the tank safe? Maybe for now.
Giannis Antetokounmpo a future Brooklyn Net? The Bucks have started poorly this season
Word came out yesterday that trouble could be brewing in Milwaukee paradise with Giannis Antetokounmpo possibly looking for an out at some point.
