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Cam Thomas is happy to share clutch-time responsibilities with Mikal Bridges
USA TODAY Sports

Ever since he has emerged as one of the top scorers for the Brooklyn Nets, Cameron Thomas has become one of the most reliable scorers in the clutch. His natural ability to create shots for himself lends itself to clutch situations alongside his killer mentality.

However, he is not alone in this role because the Nets also have Mikal Bridges who can also be trusted in those high-pressure situations. Since he is more experienced than Cam, Mikal has gotten more shots, but both players are willing to share the rock with each other.

“It's just a trust thing. If most people watch the game, you know that me and Mikal [Bridges] rotate a little bit,” Cam said to GQ. “I take a possession or I'll take two possessions in a row if I'm scoring and feeling it and then after those two I may give it to Mikal, or Mikal may give it to me. We rotate it, keep defenses off balance because you never want to give a team the same reads.”

A two-headed offense

Trying to stop Cameron is already a challenge, and with Mikal Bridges alongside him, the Nets' offense becomes even more potent as they both excel in creating shots through isolation plays and are versatile off-ball contributors.

Mikal's time with the Phoenix Suns showcased his proficiency as an off-ball shooter, excelling in cuts to the paint. This experience remains evident as he thrives on teammate passes and can also create opportunities individually. 

While the LSU product may not have Bridges' extensive off-ball repertoire, he proves valuable as a spot-up shooter and through timely cuts, contributing effectively to the offensive scheme coach Vaughn has in play.

Clutch time will be challenging for defenders

In clutch moments, the Nets enjoy an advantage with both Mikal and Cam as scoring options. Defenders may focus on Cam, overlooking Mikal, creating strategic leverage. 

Despite the attention of the opposing guards, the aforementioned duo can still distribute the ball to teammates like Cameron Johnson and Spencer Dinwiddie, who've proven their clutch abilities. Going forward, Thomas and Bridges are poised to play key roles in running Vaughn's offense during critical game situations.

This article first appeared on Brooklyn Nets on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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