Nets wing Cameron Johnson, who has been sidelined since the team’s regular season opener due to a left leg injury, appears to be nearing a return. As Mark W. Sanchez of The New York Post writes, Johnson was listed as doubtful for Wednesday’s game vs. the Clippers, the first time he has been upgraded from “out.”
When word broke on October 30 that Johnson had been diagnosed with a strain in his left leg, the plan was for him to be reevaluated in 10 days. That evaluation is due to happen on Thursday, so Johnson’s return could follow shortly thereafter.
Here’s more on the Nets:
- The Nets assigned Johnson, Nic Claxton, and Harry Giles to the G League for Wednesday’s practice with Long Island, tweets Brian Lewis of The New York Post. That bodes well for Johnson and for Claxton, who is also making his way back from an injury sustained on opening night (a left ankle sprain). Head coach Jacque Vaughn referred to the big man earlier this week as “day-to-day,” so it sounds as if he’s getting close to playing.
- Following two injury-plagued seasons, Ben Simmons may be held out for one game of the Nets’ back-to-back sets for the foreseeable future, Lewis writes for The New York Post. “I don’t even know. That’s going to be on them,” Simmons said when asked if that’s the plan. “I believe so. Me, I feel good. I feel ready. I think they’re just being smart about it. So yeah.” While Wednesday’s game isn’t part of a back-to-back, Simmons is being listed as questionable due to left hip soreness.
- Cam Thomas, Brooklyn’s leading scorer so far this season, spoke to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype about several topics, including his hot start, his efforts to improve as a defender, and how the perception of the Nets has changed since the departures of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. “I’d say with KD and Kyrie, we were more under a microscope, while this team is more under the radar,” Thomas said. “We’re coming up trying to prove people wrong and show that we’re really a good team and we can contend with anybody.”
Brooklyn’s defense will really appreciate the return of Claxton. Johnson is also solid on that end. They’ve looked great on offense, but they can’t get stops.
Simmons still sucking even now that he’s healthy. Zero offensive presence. Even as a passer, he’s been super bland so far. It’s basically just like having a faster Andre Drummond, except afraid of attacking the rim.
lol Simmons has actually been the engine to our offense but the problem is he’s afraid of getting fouled
Kind of hard to be the engine of an offense when you’re passing early and often and forcing your teammates into tougher finishes than necessary. He’s terrified of holding the ball for any length of time.
It shows in the assisted FG% of teammates. The only one who is worse when Dinwiddie is passing to them is Cam Thomas. The others are all better with Dinwiddie as the assister than Simmons. And his chemistry with Cam is great! But that’s not enough when the rest of the team is worse off, particularly from 3, where he should be getting the most out of his teammates.
Wow they are giving Cam Thomas the GREEEEEN light and then some. He’s putting up 21 FGs a game. For context Steph Curry in his career avg 18 FGA