Nets’ Cam Thomas seizing second with Kyrie Irving gone

The Nets unloaded Kyrie Irving, and unleashed Cam Thomas.

With Irving out of the lineup the previous three video games (one earlier than and two after he was traded), Thomas has cracked 40 factors in each one. At 21, he’s the youngest participant in NBA historical past to attain not less than 40 in three consecutive video games. His 134 factors in that stretch are essentially the most ever by a Web in a three-game span, breaking the group document set by (naturally) Irving.

Although Thomas isn’t a like-for-like substitute, he has taken benefit of the commerce of Irving and harm to Kevin Durant to money in on his golden alternative.

“He’s able to doing it, there’s no query about that,” coach Jacque Vaughn stated because the Nets ready to host the Bulls on Thursday. “You’ve simply bought to consider the totality of our group. If Kevin was enjoying, might he get that quantity of pictures? In all probability not. After we had Kevin and Ky, might he get these quantity of pictures? In all probability not.

“What was the perfect lineup round that group? All the time do what’s finest for the group. Proper now for Cam that is the perfect factor for our group, for him to be showcased to attain the basketball. And his capacity to attain the basketball, we’ve wanted these previous two video games. We’ll want it once more.”

Since Wilt Chamberlain retired in 1973, solely 10 gamers have three straight video games with 43 or extra factors: Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Devin Booker, Kobe Bryant, James Harden, Michael Jordan, Damian Lillard, Bob Love, Moses Malone and Russell Westbrook. Now Thomas has joined that august group.

“Lots of people have been hitting me up, saying they’re pleased with me,” Thomas stated. “In order that’s actually good for me to have some assist again residence from mates, household, whoever, simply assist. That’s what you want now, you want lots of people supporting you and having your finest curiosity. It will get a bit of overwhelming, however I take pleasure in it as a result of it simply exhibits that everyone’s watching, in order that’s good.”

Thomas has performed higher than the Nets might’ve anticipated. Within the three video games, he averaged 44.7 factors on 56 % capturing, 14-for-25 from deep and 36-for-40 from the free-throw stripe.

That raises the query of how he sat for 5 straight video games final month and struggled to get constant minutes earlier than the Nets misplaced Durant and Ben Simmons to harm, then dealt Irving to Dallas.

“It’s like a merchandising machine, you need it simple, and you set your cash in and typically you get junk. However should you put a bit of bit extra funding into it — like a house cooked meal — you get to be taught in regards to the components and what it takes,” Vaughn stated. “So he’s realized the components of being knowledgeable basketball participant, not the merchandising machine, not the short and straightforward.”

Durant (MCL) and Seth Curry (left adductor) can be out versus the Bulls, whereas Yuta Watanabe (again tightness) and Day’Ron Sharpe (proper foot soreness) are questionable. Simmons — who made his return Tuesday after lacking 5 video games with a knee harm — is on the market.