Inside The Nets

Cam Thomas was surprised when the Jazz used a box-and-one to defend him

Thomas was caught surprised by the Jazz's defensive adjustments.

Marin Gabric

© Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
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Cameron Thomas was the Nets' best player in the 108-125 loss to the Utah Jazz. The 22-year-old was excellent as he scored 32 points to lead Brooklyn's charge, but it was not enough to get the win.

The Jazz defense was focused on stopping Cam as the game went on, as they threw multiple defensive schemes to stop him. 

The box-and-one tactic they pulled off was quite a surprise; usually, you see that move reserved for big-name guards like Stephen Curry or Damian Lillard.

"They boxed-and-one me a little bit, just switching up their defense, going zone on one play, then box-and-one. Credit to them for being alert and changing defense on the fly like that," Cam said after the defeat to Utah. "Tonight was the first time I've seen a box-and-one since AAU or high school. That was different. I just gotta get used to most teams trying to mix it up on me so I don't get going."

Cam adapts well to the defense

Even if he faced a new defensive scheme done specifically to contain him, Thomas did not flinch. He just kept going and played within the flow of the offense, leading to his game-high 32 points. However, it did play a factor in him not getting the ball for some crucial parts of the game.

Denying the ball in the box-and-one can be taxing for scoring guards, especially when they're playing against players with limitless energy like Collin Sexton. The LSU product still had a good scoring game, but he had to work for almost every point.

The Nets need to support Cam during his big games

This season has proven challenging when the 22-year-old plays exceptionally, with Brooklyn holding a 1-4 record when Thomas scores more than 30 points—a tough reality for the Nets, who lean on Cam to spark comebacks while grappling with struggles from other players.

In this particular game against Utah, Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson shot 4-of-16 and 2-of-9 from the field, respectively. 

The Nets had a real shot at winning this game if they dialed in their shooting accuracy, underscoring the importance of boosting offensive efficiency. It's crucial for challenging the opponents' defense and making room for everyone else on the team.

The biggest takeaways from the Nets' disappointing loss to the Jazz

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Marin Gabric
MARIN GABRIC

Marin's love for writing developed in high school but was furthered in college when he took a number of creative writing courses. Doing sports writing felt like an extremely natural continuation, as it furthered his passions in both writing and basketball.  Marin loves the feeling of looking at stats after a game and analyzing what each team could've done better or what they excel in compared to the rest of the league. And the ability to do so for his favorite team, the Brooklyn Nets, is quite special in itself. 

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