NEW ORLEANS — After a sluggish begin to the season, the Nets’ Cam Johnson is beginning to appear like himself. Really, a record-breaking model of himself.
The Nets wing has not solely rediscovered his ordinary taking pictures stroke, however he’s began driving the ball, and completed it with a turnover-free streak that set a league mark.
Johnson hasn’t turned the ball over in any of the previous seven video games, making him the primary participant in NBA historical past to log a minimum of half-hour with out a giveaway in seven straight tilts.
On Monday in New Orleans, he’ll get an opportunity to run his document to eight straight — and preserve boosting his worth each to the Nets and across the NBA.
“Some of it is just how the game goes. Just not putting the ball in jeopardy, making the simple play,” stated Johnson, who had 23 factors and hit 4 of seven from deep in 31 turnover-free minutes Saturday at Cleveland. “However in the event you come again and have a pair turnovers in a sport, simply going to shake it off.
“And it’s not something I’m thinking about out there. It’s not [thinking] ‘I can’t turn the ball over at all. I can’t turn it over at all.’ I’m just trying to play the right way, and it’s going to happen sometimes. But I’m not even focused on turnovers, honestly. Trying not to, but I’m not dwelling on it.”
One in all a number of Nets veterans talked about in commerce reviews, Johnson had been the primary in NBA historical past with a number of 3s, assists and no turnovers in six straight video games.
Johnson hasn’t dedicated a turnover since Oct. 27, when he misplaced the ball out of bounds with 8:44 left within the third quarter of the win over Milwaukee. He has dished out 25 assists since then with out a single giveaway.
Johnson has been attacking closeouts and driving the ball exhausting, having fun with his finest stretch since arriving in Brooklyn.
“It’s him being a very good basketball player,” coach Jordi Fernandez stated. “He is aware of one among his superpowers is to shoot the basketball. He makes a couple of photographs, they begin closing out actually exhausting to him, and he’s making the appropriate learn each time.
“He’s not forcing the issue, shooting tough or when he’s heavily contested. Then he’s driving, he’s scoring at the rim, or he can make the next play for his teammates. So it’s just him being a very good basketball player.”
Good and getting higher.
Johnson averaged 14.5 factors by the primary six video games of the season on .408/.360/.846 taking pictures splits. However over his previous 4 he has taken his sport to a special stage, pouring in 21.8 factors on white-hot .554/.419/.857 taking pictures splits.
“A lot of it is what goes on around offense. The defense, getting into the game, picking up, guarding, and feeling that energy circulate throughout the team,” Johnson stated. “And that approach it makes it simpler. Strain is taken off of offense. You play in move. You discover a rhythm.
“But I just try to come in and do my job every game, no matter what that looks like. And somebody who shoots 3s a lot, some days can be better than others. So you just ride the waves while you can and focus on that next play, the next shot, and your results will be the results.”
Johnson has taken an identical method to commerce rumors, logical with the Nets rebuilding.
He’s making $23.6 million this season, or 16.8 p.c of the wage cap. However Johnson’s deal is team-friendly and truly de-escalates, making it much more worthwhile because the cap rises.
It dips to underneath $21.6 million subsequent season, simply 13.95 p.c of the cap; and he’ll earn $23.6 million within the last 12 months for a modest 13.89 p.c.
Some criticized Nets common supervisor Sean Marks for not shifting Johnson in the summertime and sticking to a reportedly excessive asking worth of two first-round picks.
Johnson has completed nothing since however enhance his worth.
