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The biggest takeaways from the Nets' disappointing loss to the Jazz
In what was supposed to be a bounce-back game for the Nets, they lost to the Utah Jazz 108-125, powered by amazing performances from Collin Sexton, Talen Horton-Tucker, and Lauri Markkanen. This was surprising because most people saw this as a golden opportunity for Brooklyn to end the trip on a high note.
Now, Brooklyn has a 13-13 record, a far cry from the 12-9 tally before this five-game road trip. They secured just one victory in their last five games, notably against the Phoenix Suns, while the majority of their defeats came with double-digit margins.
Cam Thomas is a bright spot
Despite four losses on this trip, Cameron Thomas is ready to embrace the go-to scorer role again. Filling in for a struggling Mikal Bridges, Cam averaged 26 points on this West Coast adventure, reminiscent of his performances earlier this season.
The 22-year-old guard is scoring at all three levels while also improving as a playmaker. The raw assist numbers don't show it, but he's making accurate passes at the right time to set up his teammates for open shots or extra passes.
Dennis Smith Jr. is more important to the team than you think
The Nets desperately needed a lockdown guard defender during this stretch of games. Spencer Dinwiddie played well notching multiple double-doubles, but his defense was not on the same level as Dennis Smith Jr's.
The uber-athletic guard could've done a better job by preventing Collin Sexton or Talen Horton-Tucker from scoring 27 points apiece as they did in this game.
The former NC State star remains sidelined with an upper-back injury, which is a shame since he's a game-changer on defense and a superb playmaker in transition. Vaughn and the rest need him healthy and ready as soon as possible.
Mikal needs to lock in again
Mikal has been fantastic for the Nets during this season so far. Unfortunately, he was in a slump in the past five games as he struggled with making shots efficiently.
It was a sign of fatigue because he has played 35+ minutes per game during this stretch. This lack of energy was visible in his performance against Utah, shooting 4-of-16 from the field.
If the Nets want to win more games, they need a focused Bridges because he provides another dimension to their offense alongside Thomas. Glimpses of their synergy emerged in this game when they collaborated effectively.
The December 20th game against the New York Knicks at Barclays is an opportunity for them to shine together.
