Nets' Cam Johnson on track to return Wednesday vs. Celtics
Nets forward Cameron Johnson looks on in the first half of an NBA game against Golden State at Barclays Center on Feb. 5. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Most teams look ahead to the All-Star break this weekend as a chance to rest and unwind. The Nets are no different, except the break interrupts good news.
Cam Johnson is on track to return Wednesday in the second game of a back-to-back against the Celtics, coach Jacque Vaughn said before the first game of said back-to-back Tuesday at Barclays Center . If he plays, the Nets will enter the break as close to full strength as they’ve been since the season opener.
Tuesday’s game is the fourth straight Johnson has missed with a left hip strain. Vaughn joked that as happy as he is to welcome Johnson back, he’ll be happier when guys can play without a minutes limit.
“Yeah, I wish it wasn't illegal to practice [during the break]. I would definitely try to practice during that time,” Vaughn said. “But I'm just going to be simple and thankful that we're getting guys back. And hopefully we'll get to a position where we are whole and we come out of the break ready to make a push."
Following Tuesday’s game, the Nets had players miss 153 combined games missed to injury - seventh-most in the NBA, per Spotrac.
Johnson's return is also going to create a minutes logjam. Somebody will be left unsatisfied and Vaughn compared parsing out minutes to sorting out a Rubik’s Cube. It could change with every game but the lineups will be chosen based on what helps the Nets win, even if a past contributor sits that night.
Sorting out good health could be a curse, but it’s a problem Vaughn wants as his team prepares for the break.
“I would love for it to be consistent. I know every athlete loves that,” Vaughn said of playing time. “You’re gonna check in this time of the game, this amount of minutes, this time of the week. It won’t happen. We’re trying to win games. Especially with the minutes restrictions, that makes it more difficult.”
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
