Cam Thomas last 5 games: 16.8 points, .450 field, .438 threes, 0.8 turnovers, 23.8 minutes

[cam24thomas]

Does Vaughn hate Cam personally or is there really a basketball reason for playing him so little?
Nets defense is worse than ever, so he can't be worse at defense than the players already on the court....
Cam would be leading the league in scoring if given starter's minutes.

[MGrand15]

Cam literally just played 29 minutes.

And the starting lineup is absolutely locking teams down on the defense. They've been so good that even with that horrendous Chicago game and a shaky 1st quarter against Atlanta and some obvious chemistry issues - the defensive rating is still elite and that group is +17 in 71 minutes.

I agree Cam should get 28 to 30 minutes a game but it's not so easy once you break it down. My guess is Curry is out of the rotation or even bought out soon and Cam's role gets more consistent.

[76ciology]

I’ve been a big fan of Cam since before he entered the league.

The way I see Cam is he is advanced in a skill that is highly valued to the game. And usually guys need vast experience before they reach that level of skillset.

But there’s no substitute for experience. So yeah he has all the scoring moves but he haven’t seen all kinds of defensive players and defensive schemes while his advanced skillset tricks him to think his skillset is already enough to score all kinds of defender and defensive schemes.

Its like when teams knew that taking 3s is the way to go on offense. Teams would just jack up 3s thinking it gives them the best chance to win. But at what context? How good is the shooter taking the shot? Is the shooter in a slump or hot hand? How good is the defense? How early in the shotclock or the game should you take those shots?

I believe Cam will eventually figure it all out and be a mid to top tier star in the league. He needs to get his experience but this experience is a baggage to the team short term. So I see Jacque Vaughn trying to balance everything. Trying to make the team win while keeping in mind that he has to develop Cam by giving him PT.

[3pt_chucker]

JV is a Cam hater for sure. He is going to limit his development. The 40pt streak was a mirage because JV had no choice but to unleash him. Now that there are more pieces around him, he's back to having him on a leash.

[Marvin Martian]

Cam is terrible. It's easy to be fooled by his scoring skillset, but he doesn't use them properly because he has a poor feel for the game. I am glad JV is keeping him on a short leash because that is the only way he will learn from his bad habits.

[OfficialRef]

Not trading him while his value is high is a big mistake I'm telling you.

He is another poole/Herro type player who I don't think will even reach that level.

[NetsJets]

He’s a streaky shooter that when he’s on he’s ON. But when he’s off he doesn’t bring much else to the table to compensate for a lack of scoring. That’s why he’s better off as a bench guy for now.

[3pt_chucker]

Cam also needs to be put in a position to succeed. Yes he has big flaws but all young players are streaky and need developing. JV is just not the right coach for Cam to develop properly. Just look at JV's Orlando stint. His history for coaching young players is putrid.

For example, why tf is Royce O'Neale bringing the ball up/running the offense when Cam is on the floor. If you are going to have Cam as a 6th man, let him run the offense properly and get him in rhythm instead of screaming at him to shoot 3s.

[Sharcm1]

He averaging all of that and they barely call plays for him and mostly give him the ball to bail out the offense. So yeah he’s an efficient scorer. But when he misses shots JV doesn’t go to him. But Spencer is allowed to jack up bad shots and hold the ball with no consequences. If a player on this team is going to hold the ball and take bad shots I want it to be cam because they are more likely to go in

[Claud]

Why does Dinwiddie start over him?

Vaughn completelly killed this kid momentum with his usual bull about playing the right way or whatever.

Dude we need BUCKETS. It's not rocket science, let the kid cook and we'll live with the consequences.

I'd rather watch Cam take 10 tough shots in a row than ISO Din.

[ESP]

It is mind boggling how they are handling the Thomas situation. I think JV remembered the summer league disrespect when thomas ignored Nash and coaching staff telling him to work on his pg skills.. only thing I can think of … because when given opportunity Thomas proved he belongs out there with the starting unit, but somehow he’s still in doghouse.. it’s so strange to ignore Thomas development and throw away his potential to another team,.. JV is a terrible HC, but not only because of Thomas situation.

IMO the starting lineup should be Dinwiddie, CamT, Bridges, CamJ, Clax.. Or develop CamT into harden like pg and have Dinwiddie as 6th.. or just give CamT the 6th off the bench to get the scoring going, but instead JV got weird minutes going on.. would it be that much of a difference taking out DFS or Dinwiddie for Thomas in the starting unit ? Like DFS or Dinwiddie are that much of a game changer to completely ignore CamT development and only have him play when role players are resting is insane…

[Sharcm1]

They just don’t use him right. They expect him to stand in the corner and shoot threes when the ball comes to him. I good coach would use his skills accordingly.

[ESP]

Exactly, unfortunately for JV he won’t be able to install the standing camT corner 3’s today, and actually have to let him play his full game, since healthy players that’s fully playable need some extra rest today smh

[gigantes]

No way in hell I would start CamT right now, but he should definitely be in the rotation.

Two seasons left on his deal, so we're not in bad shape, here.
I think he needs to work on his passing, understanding of sets, and running an offense, this offseason.

[Sharcm1]

I actually think he played pretty good defense last night, especially at the end of the game. He was rotating and helping on the double. But had to wait till the end of the game to take over. He’s trying to hard to fit into a role players role because that’s what JV wants from him. JV is ruining this kid. I understood when KD and Irving were here why he didn’t play. They were the offensive stars and we needed players to play around them not to dominate the ball. Now we players to dominate the ball and score and he’s that guy.

[GTR11]

In 2-4 years he will be 20+ pt scorer.

He is a victim of bad coaching and influence. In perfect world, he would've been Clarkson right now.

I think he is Dipo in making. You keep such talent.

[sashaturiaf]

In 2-4 years he will be 20+ pt scorer.

He is a victim of bad coaching and influence. In perfect world, he would've been Clarkson right now.

I think he is Dipo in making. You keep such talent.

I think you're underselling Cam, he would be a 20 point scorer this season if he wasn't JV's personal pet whipping boy.

But Dipo? I don't see it, if Cam had Dipo's defensive instincts and ability with what he does on offense that's an all-NBA player.

[GTR11]

In 2-4 years he will be 20+ pt scorer.

He is a victim of bad coaching and influence. In perfect world, he would've been Clarkson right now.

I think he is Dipo in making. You keep such talent.

I think you're underselling Cam, he would be a 20 point scorer this season if he wasn't JV's personal pet whipping boy.

But Dipo? I don't see it, if Cam had Dipo's defensive instincts and ability with what he does on offense that's an all-NBA player.

Have you seen Dipo in his first two years during Orlando Tragic days? Go look back again.

I can definitely remember that. Got few reasons why.