Matt Thomas
Signed with the reputation of being an elite marksman in the Euro League, Matt Thomas has impressed in the preseason – and it’s his shooting that has predictably stood out so far. Thomas averaged 47-percent from three on just under four attempts per game, all in 14 minutes per game.
In short; wow.
It’s clear that Matt Thomas has most definitely earned his reputation, that much is clear, but just how much of it is down to the preseason defense that he’s coming up against? That’s the question here.
Matchups become a little more aggressive once the season starts, and how Thomas will adjust to elite defenders in the NBA could determine how his season pans out. His clean shooting mechanics are a joy to watch, but getting your shot off becomes that much harder.
His spot in the rotation is still under consideration too. Fred VanVleet, Serge Ibaka, and most likely, Terence Davis have all earned spots ahead of him, so where Thomas fits into the lineup is anyone’s guess. Nurse will likely run 9-10 man rotations in the regular season, so there may be room there.
Thomas could play a big part in the season, but with so much left to determine, let’s not expect Thomas to be a 50-percent shooter from three on a nightly basis. He’ll need to adjust, but the initial signs are good.