The running of the bulls, an annual event in Pamplona, Spain, that is exactly what it sounds like, is a tradition where logic is discarded for the pursuit of exhilaration and unbridled fun. One’s long-term betterment is put at risk for a brief moment of satisfaction and machismo. It’s a blast, but is it smart when you look at the action alone? No, not particularly.
In the first half last night, when the Brooklyn Nets ran up the Chicago Bulls, it was no different. Coming down the stretch in what’s sure to be a photo finish between themselves, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Toronto Raptors for draft lottery positioning, the Nets went for the win as they have all season under Jordi Fernández. They knew it might sting them down the line, but they didn’t care. They prioritized amusement, and while indeed illogical, it was hard to blame them, especially as Cam Thomas slid around Chicago defenders like any topping would on a slice of deep dish, Pamplona style.
Sense, or just the team’s deficiencies, eventually caught up to Brooklyn in the second half, mainly the fourth quarter. The Nets ended up falling by a 116-110 score despite strong contributions from the guys not named Thomas along the margins as well. Let’s get into it.
Thomas is Taking his Return a Step Further
Last time out, we marveled at Cam Thomas’ ability to hit shots from multiple levels on the floor, self-create, and be a part of what was a rather humming offense, even if he only tallied three dimes.
Yesterday, he took that a step further, looking more like the version of himself earlier in the season that inspired All-Star hope. Thomas’ decision-making as a shooter/passer as the defense gravitated around him was fast and focused. He was like a GPS navigation system. No matter where the Nets offense started out, no matter what obstacles lay in front of it from possession to possession, if the destination was a bucket, he immediately knew how to get around everything and get his team there.
In the first period, Thomas dished a career-best five assists in one frame. But it didn’t stop there. CT’s crisp decision-making persisted past the game’s opening sequences. To go with his 15 points at halftime, Thomas sat with eight assists, tying his career-high for a full game by that point.
He only added two more along with nine points in the second half, but Chicago’s defense did well to key in the guys around him there, throwing doubles and hedging on screens much like Brooklyn does night-in and night-out.
In fairness, Thomas did force one or two looks in the latter half, but with his teammates shooting 38.8% there as a result of Chicago’s adjustments, coupled with Brooklyn’s lead slowly but surely slipping away, that’s understandable. Fernández also said that he may have “run out of gas” having been out two months and still trying to get in playing shape. Again, understandable.
Collectively, it was still a fine game from the Bayou Bucket. Fernández also said that he’ll “work on sustaining that.” He, Thomas, and Thomas’s agent, will certainly hope he’s successful in doing so.
Martin Making Strides Too
One of Thomas’ few opponents to remain consistent through the first and second half was one of their newest from a contractual perspective. After shooting 7-of-13 from the field and 5-of-8 from deep, Tyrese Martin finished with 19 points to go with three assists and four boards.
Beneath the lottery hype that followed Ziaire Williams and the natural spotlight following Trendon Watford as a point man, Martin has quietly been one of the team’s best reclamation projects this year. In his last 10 games, including last night, the scrappy guard is averaging 11.7/1.7/3.1 while hitting from deep on a 40% clip and pulling 5.5 per game.
Tyrese Martin and Keon have very much done their part to generate 2nd chance PTS post All-Star. Lot of it's been by crashing horizontally.
Doesn't lead to a bucket here but see how he relocates to the corner to do so. Gives shorter guys a better chance a picking one away. pic.twitter.com/sWfFIeNPiV
— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) March 14, 2025
While the 3-point shot is the first thing on his weapon wheel, Martin also introduced us to further levels of depth in his bag last night.
Remember when Cam Johnson was shocking everyone at the beginning of the year with his ability to weave around screens and create looks for himself?
Here's Tyrese Martin doing it. pic.twitter.com/RA30eyR6Xk
— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) March 14, 2025
Again, don’t forget about that 3-point stroke. That comes first, even if a few extra feet from beyond the arc.
The diverse shot-making, rebounding, and ball-handling skills from him this season have all been eye-brow raisers. If he can keep that up and continue to pair it with his ability to hit everyone’s favorite shot today, it’s a recipe for a lengthier NBA career.
As a subtle reminder, Brooklyn has a team option on his contract for next year. They can pick that up before June 29 for just over $2 million.
Fourth Quarters are a Problem
They might be a blessing if you’re only objective is the protect the tank at this point, but from a pure hoops point of view, Brooklyn’s version of “closing time” has been a harder watch than Andy Bernard’s rendition of the song in those Steve Carrell-less episodes of The Office.
After losing to Cleveland in the final frame 31-18 last time out, the Nets came into last night a league-worst -75 in the fourth quarter. They only inflated that number in Chicago, losing to the Bulls in the fourth 32-28. Physicality, or a lack thereof, stung them the most there, as the Nets were -13 on the boards, -10 in paint points, and -9 in points at the line in the fourth.
Thomas, who had been the engine of Brooklyn’s offense, running low on fuel certainly also factored in. The Bulls, who finished +14 in fast break points, adding five in the fourth, couldn’t have made things easier on his tired legs either.
For a team relying on a guy still working on his conditioning, the Bulls are a matchup nightmare, sneakily ranking second in fast break points per game this entire year. But the evidence beyond that also suggests crunch time is a matchup nightmare for the Nets as a whole.