UNLIKELY HEROES: James Johnson and Cam Thomas are earning it

A recurring theme of the first (and maybe only?) season of the “Big Three” Era in Brooklyn was “one ball”. It was the most common refrain detractors used to question how successful those Nets would be. Not more valid concerns about the interior defense or rebounding, but rather, Brooklyn’s ability to share the ball with three offensive superstars on the court.

Those issues were quickly, easily, and predictably blown out of the water before the playoffs even rolled around. Some of the best offensive possessions of the season, across the entire NBA, came courtesy of Brooklyn’s unstoppable ball movement. And oh yeah, when the game slowed down, one of their three mercenaries was going to have a…