It’s not ideal to be without Patrick Williams.
After all, the Bulls did extend the forward to a five-year, $90 million contract last summer, and now that his left foot is acting up again it’s not exactly a return on investment.
Don’t tell that to rookie Matas Buzelis, however.
Life without Williams has meant opportunity for the 6-foot-10 rookie, and when opportunity knocks for Buzelis he doesn’t just want to take advantage of it, but he likely wants to try and dunk on it.
“It’s very important,” Buzelis said of the playing time he’s been getting. “I’m looking at it as an opportunity to play in the NBA. I’m super thankful to play. Every time I step on the floor I’m thinking of it as a blessing. I’m not taking it for granted, but every time I step out there I’m going to keep learning, keep getting better.”
That was on display both Tuesday against the Wizards and then a night later in the 133-119 loss to the Magic.
In just over 17 minutes of work in Washington, Buzelis scored nine points on 4-of-7 shooting, grabbed four rebounds and added a steal and a blocked shot. The sledding was a bit tougher against the Magic, with Buzelis finishing with seven points and battling foul troubles.
Before the Orlando game, however, that was a three-game sample size in which he averaged 10.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and had four total blocks. More importantly, the Bulls went 2-1 in those three games.
Bigger picture was since mid-November there’s been growth from the 11th overall pick, with Buzelis ranked 14th in the rookie class in scoring in that time (7.3 points per game), shot 42.9% from three-point range, and had five total blocks (third in the rookie class over that time.).
Not that Buzelis is even close to a finished product.
This is about taking steps, and it’s not a quick climb. Bulls coach Billy Donovan is well aware of that.
“I think with Matas, I like his aggressiveness,” Donovan said of Buzelis’ showing in the nation’s capital. “He’s staying aggressive. The communication piece on defense needs to continue getting better, but he stays aggressive. He’s taking his shots when they’re there, which I love. Like he’s not hesitating. And we need him to take those shots.
“He had some good drives to the basket. But the biggest things for him right now in his growth, when he gets caught on a Kyle Kuzma, a great offensive player, he’ll get better as he starts to play guys a second and third time. The biggest part for him defensively is how well can he communicate.”
Not that Buzelis is alone in that.
A big part of the defensive slippage for the Bulls the last month has been because of a lack of communication. All the moving pieces in the rotation haven’t helped.
That’s why if Buzelis can continue to learn on the fly, as well as continue the film work he’s been putting in, the hope is not only will the unit improve when he’s on the floor, but a weakness in his game will become a strength.
Donovan said at the start of November that the early focus for Buzelis was a lot of extra time in the weightroom, looking to put muscle on his frame and get him prepared for the physicality of the NBA. That continues.
“The confidence for me just gets higher,” Buzelis added. “The confidence rises.”
Now, if Donovan could only get that attitude from his entire roster. The coach warned after the win over the Wizards about taking that same energy and focus against a team like the Magic.
It obviously didn’t make the trip.
Orlando jumped all over the Bulls in the opening quarter, outscoring them 38-25, and unlike in an earlier meeting this season in which the Magic blew a 20-point lead against the Bulls, there would be none of that on Wednesday.
Ayo Dosunmu led the Bulls (8-12) with 21 points, while Lonzo Ball made his return from wrist injury and scored six points in just under 15 minutes of work.