Looking for a silver lining from the banged-up, 6-8, lost-three-straight Nets?
Cam Johnson’s shot might be coming around.
In the wing’s first six games this season — which included a seven-game break with a calf strain — Johnson could not find his stroke.
Johnson, who entered the season a career 39.3 percent shooter from beyond the arc, was hitting just 33.3 percent from 3 this season.
His value tumbles if his deep shot is not falling.
But in an otherwise-dispiriting, 147-145 loss in Atlanta on Wednesday, Johnson shot his way into his best game of the short season.
loss to the Hawks earlier this week.
In 38 minutes of play, he knocked down 8 of 13 from the floor and 5 of 8 from behind the arc for 23 points on a night the Nets needed all of them (and a few more).
Even more encouraging was the diversity of Johnson’s 3-point makes: one from each corner, one from a wing and two from just about straight-on.
Read Related Also: ‘Out of touch’ Bethenny Frankel dragged for flaunting massive engagement ring: ‘Wealth Whispers’
There are plenty of alibis for Johnson’s slow start this season, which already has included several injuries.
his calf in the season opener.
Before injuring his calf in the season opener, Johnson had missed the entire preseason with a hamstring strain.
If he needed a few games to find his rhythm, perhaps it has been found.
After the Nets re-signed Johnson — one of the key returns from the Suns in the Kevin Durant blockbuster trade — to a four-year, $94.5 million deal this offseason, the signs of shooting life are encouraging.
With 12 more assists, Spencer Dinwiddie leapfrogged Vince Carter for sixth-most assists all time with the Nets.
Dinwiddie played parts of five seasons with the team before tearing his ACL in December 2020 then being traded to the Wizards in August 2021.
He returned in the February trade that sent Kyrie Irving to the Mavericks and has begun climbing several Nets franchise leaderboards.
Next up for Dinwiddie, who has 1,773 assists with the team: Darwin Cook with 1,970.
