Erik Slater Articles - Page 31

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas will return Thursday vs. the Charlotte Hornets after missing the team’s last nine games with an ankle sprain. After spending most of his first two seasons on the bench, Thomas quickly established himself as one of the NBA’s leading scorers upon stepping into an expanded role to start 2023-24. The […]

The Brooklyn Nets entered the 2023 offseason with a clear goal of improving their league-worst rebounding. The Nets ranked 29th on the boards in 2022-23 and lost the second-chance points battle 80-22 during a first-round playoff sweep against the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite that debilitating weakness, general manager Sean Marks didn’t acquire an established frontcourt piece […]

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is expected to return on Thursday night against the Charlotte Hornets after missing the team’s last nine games with a left ankle sprain. The Nets listed Thomas as probable on their initial injury report Wednesday. Thomas participated in full-court, five-on-five scrimmages following Brooklyn’s shootaround Tuesday, according to head coach Jacque […]

The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Toronto Raptors 115-103 Tuesday in their final group play matchup of the NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament. The Nets closed the first half on a 17-2 run to take control of the game. They shot 45 percent on the night while holding the Raptors to 39 percent shooting. Spencer Dinwiddie led […]

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is on the verge of returning from an ankle sprain that has sidelined him for eight games. Thomas participated in full-court five-on-five scrimmages Tuesday ahead of Brooklyn’s in-season tournament matchup with the Toronto Raptors, per head coach Jacque Vaughn. “He’s trending in the direction of hopefully playing with us soon,” […]

Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson has been forced out of two of the team’s last three games with cramping in his right leg. Johnson sat the entire overtime period of Wednesday’s loss against the Atlanta Hawks after tipping in a go-ahead layup at the end of regulation. He also exited during the third quarter of […]

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is nearing a return after missing the team’s last eight games with an ankle sprain. The Nets listed Thomas as doubtful on their initial status report for Tuesday’s NBA In-Season Tournament matchup with the Toronto Raptors. The Nets announced Wednesday that Thomas has made significant progress and is expected to […]

The Brooklyn Nets play host to the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday, with an opportunity to advance to the quarterfinals of the NBA’s inaugural In-Season tournament. While many players remain unfamiliar with the tournament’s format, Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie said there’s one thing they all understand. “I mean, I don’t know all the particular rules. I […]

For the ninth time in their first 16 games, the Brooklyn Nets were without starting center Nic Claxton when they took on the Chicago Bulls on Sunday night. Claxton was a late scratch ahead of the Nets 118-109 win over the Bulls due to a sprain of the same ankle that sidelined him for eight […]

A historic second quarter propelled the Brooklyn Nets to a 118-109 victory over the Chicago Bulls Sunday at Barclays Center. Playing on the back end of a back-to-back, the Nets looked like a team upset they weren’t home watching Sunday night football in the first quarter. They trailed 36-17 at the end of the frame, […]

No current Brooklyn Nets player has spent more time with the organization than Spencer Dinwiddie. Since rejoining the team at last year’s trade deadline, Dinwiddie has continued climbing up the franchise’s record books. The 10-year veteran recorded 11 assists in Saturday’s win over the Miami Heat, the first of which moved him past Vince Carter […]

Brooklyn Nets rookies Noah Clowney and Dariq Whitehead made their NBA debuts on Saturday during a 112-97 win over the Miami Heat. The pair of 19-year-olds — the second and third-youngest players in Nets history to appear in a game, trailing only Derrick Favors – received a loud ovation from the Barclays Center crowd when […]

The Brooklyn Nets snapped a three-game losing streak Saturday at Barclays Center with a 112-97 win over the Miami Heat, who were without Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Duncan Robinson on the back end of a back-to-back. Here are three key takeaways from a decisive Brooklyn win. Spencer Dinwiddie dices up makeshift Miami defense With […]

This time last year, Kevin Durant was lacing up his shoes for the Brooklyn Nets. The future Hall of Famer begrudgingly returned to the team following a failed offseason trade request, with the intention of eventually joining the Phoenix Suns. Despite a tumultuous summer, the Nets looked like a contender with Durant leading the way. […]

The Brooklyn Nets embraced a defensive identity entering their first season of the post-Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving era. Yet, through 14 games, that end of the floor has held the new-look squad back. The Nets rank 23rd in defensive rating and have allowed 130 points per game during their current three-game losing streak. Despite this, wholesale […]

The Brooklyn Nets had a clear strategy during their first offseason of the post-Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving era: take multiple chances on young, versatile free agents with upside. Among the players who fit the bill was Lonnie Walker IV, and no Net has presented a more pleasant surprise for Brooklyn early this season. An elite bench […]

Mikal Bridges has earned a reputation as one of the NBA’s top defensive stoppers over seven NBA seasons. During that time, the Brooklyn Nets forward has frequently battled with the league’s top scorers. In a recent interview with Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks, Bridges opened up on his toughest assignments, breaking down the individual skills that […]

Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons will be re-evaluated in 7-10 days after missing Brooklyn’s last six games due to a nerve impingement in his back, the team announced Wednesday. Brooklyn said Simmons is “continuing to improve with treatment” and “has begun light individual court work.” The three-time All-Star sustained the injury on this play […]

Following a career-best stretch to close the 2022-23 season, Mikal Bridges entered the year with All-Star expectations as the face of the Brooklyn Nets. However, 13 games into the 2023- 24 campaign, the 27-year-old has yet to live up to the hype. After averaging 27.7 points on 47/38/89 shooting splits in 30 games with Brooklyn […]

The Brooklyn Nets gave Cam Johnson a significant vote of confidence this offseason, signing the 28-year-old to a four-year, $94.5 million contract extension. However, they have yet to reap the rewards of that transaction early in their 2023-24 campaign. Johnson is off to a slow start while battling injuries, averaging 13.7 points per game on […]

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is progressing toward a return after spraining his ankle and missing the team’s last five games. “He is heading in the right direction,” head coach Jacque Vaughn said Tuesday. “To my knowledge, he won’t need another MRI. He’s building towards getting back on the floor.” Nets star Cam Thomas gets […]

The Brooklyn Nets entered the 2023-24 season with their highest defensive expectations in years. The team’s new-look roster is ripe with length, athleticism, and versatility, posting an average height of 6-foot-6 and an average wingspan of 6-foot-9. Brooklyn has eight players who ranked in the 80th percentile or better in defensive-estimated plus-minus last season, per […]

The Brooklyn Nets fell 121-99 to the Philadelphia 76ers Sunday at Barclays Center for their first blowout loss of the season. The defeat marks Brooklyn’s second straight after wins over Washington and Orlando pushed them over .500 for the first time this year. Here are three key takeaways from a decisive Nets loss. Lonnie Walker […]

The Brooklyn Nets have been plagued by injuries early this season, with Cam Thomas, Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton, and Cam Johnson all missing extended time. Those injury woes continued Sunday, with the team ruling out guard Dennis Smith Jr. ahead of their matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Nets listed Smith as questionable with lower […]

Lonnie Walker IV wasn’t greeted with a long line of suitors when he entered unrestricted free agency this summer. After struggling to earn a consistent role with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022-23, the former first-round pick signed with the Brooklyn Nets for the minimum, citing opportunity within a young core as his reasoning. Three […]

The Brooklyn Nets’ five-game winning streak over the Miami Heat ended Thursday at Kaseya Center with a 122-115 loss. Miami entered the game on a six-game winning streak, with their last defeat coming on Nov. 1 to Brooklyn. Here are three key takeaways from a decisive Nets loss. Lonnie Walker continues Nets breakout Walker has […]

For Brooklyn Nets fans, Ben Simmons’ latest injury is “Deja Vu all over again,” to quote Yankees legend Yogi Berra. The three-time All-Star was hobbled briefly by a seemingly inconsequential play during a Nov. 6 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Simmons finished the game, and neither he nor head coach Jacque Vaughn mentioned an injury […]

After spending most of his first two seasons on the bench, Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas was having the breakout he always knew he was capable of eight games into 2023-24. The 23-year-old ranked ninth in the NBA in scoring at 28.7 points per game before suffering an ankle sprain that would sideline him for […]

The Brooklyn Nets moved over .500 with a 124-104 win over the Orlando Magic Tuesday night at Barclays Center. After leading by 15 in the first quarter, the Nets fell behind at the half but tightened the defensive screws late, holding the Magic to 6-of-21 shooting in the fourth quarter with four assists and four […]

Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons has been diagnosed with a nerve impingement in his back and will be re-evaluated in one week, the team announced Tuesday. Following a three-game absence with what the team had been calling a hip contusion, Simmons underwent an MRI, which revealed an impingement in the lower left side of […]

The Brooklyn Nets entered the 2023-24 season facing a new reality without Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving: they are no longer built to succeed in the half court offensively. Aware of this, the team began crafting a new identity centered on Ben Simmons’ elite transition ball handling and passing ability. But with Simmons sidelined by […]

The Brooklyn Nets fell victim to the injury bug in all four seasons of the Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving era. That bad fortune quickly carried over to their 2023-24 campaign. Brooklyn lost Nic Claxton and Cam Johnson for extended periods after the first game of the year. When both returned this past weekend, Cam Thomas and […]

The old saying goes, “A win is a win.” However, some wins are uglier than others, and the Brooklyn Nets’ 102-94 victory over the Washington Wizards Sunday would go in the “ugliest” category. The shorthanded Nets shot 37-of-98 (37.8 percent) from the field and 12-of-49 (24.5 percent) from three while committing 18 turnovers. However, the […]

Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton will return to the lineup Sunday versus the Washington Wizards after missing the team’s last eight games with an ankle injury. Claxton suffered what he called a high ankle sprain during Brooklyn’s season-opening loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. It has been just over two weeks since Claxton went down. While […]

The Brooklyn Nets had remained competitive in every game this season entering Friday’s in-season tournament matchup with the Boston Celtics. However, with Ben Simmons and Cam Thomas sidelined in Boston, that streak ended with a 121-107 loss before a sellout crowd at TD Garden. Here are three takeaways from Brooklyn’s decisive loss. Lonnie Walker continues […]

Ben Simmons entered the 2023-24 season with a clean bill of health for the first time in over two years. However, two weeks into the season, the three-time All-Star is set to miss his third game. After suffering a hip injury during the Brooklyn Nets’ loss to the Milwaukee Bucks Monday, the team ruled Simmons […]

Reinforcements are on the way for the injury-depleted Brooklyn Nets ahead of Friday’s in-season tournament matchup with the Boston Celtics. After missing Brooklyn’s last seven games, Cam Johnson is listed as probable for the nationally-televised meeting at TD Garden. Johnson was sidelined by a calf strain alongside Nic Claxton following the Nets’ season-opener. The 6-foot-8 […]

When things feel like they can’t get any worse for the Brooklyn Nets on the injury front, they lose Cam Thomas, their leading scorer and the top story of their young 2023-24 campaign. Thomas exited during the third quarter of Wednesday’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers after rolling his ankle. The Nets announced Thursday […]

After struggling to carve out an NBA role during his first two seasons, Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is receiving leaguewide praise amid a historic start to the 2023-24 campaign. Entering Wednesday’s matchup vs. the Los Angeles Clippers, during which he exited with a sprained ankle, the 22-year-old ranked ninth in the NBA in scoring […]