After the high-profile trades of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, young Cam Thomas became one of the most productive players for the Brooklyn Nets — so why isn’t he getting playing time in the postseason?
The Brooklyn Nets are now trailing 2-0 in their opening-round playoff series against Joel Embiid, James Harden and their Philadelphia 76ers, and head coach Jacque Vaughn is getting thoroughly outdueled by Doc Rivers.
One major question hangs over the head of this series for the Nets: Why isn’t Vaughn playing Cam Thomas, the second-best scorer on his depleted roster?
After the Kyrie and KD trades, Thomas went bonkers. With the freedom and space he needed to attack the basket at will, he put together a three-game stretch never before seen in the NBA.
In a dramatic 125-123 victory over the then-competing Washington Wizards, Thomas went ham for 44 points, four 3-pointers, five assists and five rebounds.
The very next game against the Los Angeles Clippers — who had both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in the lineup that night — Thomas, who is just 21 years old, did it again. The young, explosive swingman exploded for 47 points, seven 3s and four rebounds while shooting over 50 percent from the floor.
Just to prove it wasn’t a fluke, he did it again the very next game! Against the Phoenix Suns — ironic, given the Durant trade — Thomas popped off for 43 points, five rebounds and three 3s. He did everything he possibly could to show that he wasn’t a flash in the pan.
But as the Nets’ new acquisitions — Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith — settled in, Vaughn started cutting more and more playing time away from Thomas.
Why isn’t Cam Thomas playing in the playoffs?
In their brutal second playoff loss to the Sixers, the Nets inexplicably scored just 84 points. What is this, 1993-94? Royce O’Neale — after a particularly poor Game 1 — struggled mightily, going 2-of-11 from the floor en route to just six points. Joe Harris scored zero points in 12 minutes of on-court action.
So how much burn did Thomas get from Coach Vaughn?
Zero. Zero minutes of playing time for Thomas, who is clearly the Nets’ second-best scorer behind Bridges.
At this point, it seems like Vaughn is just being stubborn. He knows this sentiment is out there amongst fans and pundits, and he is simply just rebelling against it. The Nets easily could have won Game 2 if they had 25-plus minutes and 15-to-25 points from Thomas, all else being equal. As he’s already proven, he can do it if you just give him the ball and get out of his way.
Now, it’s Vaughn who needs to get out of the way. If the Nets want any shot of beating the Sixers at home, they’ll need Cam Thomas.
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