SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – With just 14 regular-season games left, there’s no way Patrick Williams can change minds concerning his game.
He can ease them a bit, but change them? No way. The Bulls forward is what he is in the eyes of the outside, and maybe privately some on the inside of the organization.
Not only is coach Billy Donovan hoping that Williams uses the remainder of the season to progress – specifically in his decision making – but can enter the offseason with a plan on how he can make the next jump up and play to the five-year, $90-million contract the front office gift-wrapped him last summer.
“The evolution of him, and I feel like early in his career – and never mind the injury part because he did have two situations, last year with the foot and then the wrist (in 2021-22) – but besides that I do think he’s a guy that early in his career, and it’s still early in his career, had a hard time getting over mistakes,” Donovan said on Monday. “I think he’s gotten past that and he’s been better with that. The other part is the decision-making part of it. There’s times he’s got to get off of it, there’s times he’s got to shoot, there’s times he’s got to drive it.”
There’s times he’s got to box out, as well.
That was the situation late in the loss to Houston when Williams missed Jalen Green on the boxout and the putback proved the difference in the outcome.
The latest issue with Williams – and not that it’s new – is he’s working his way back from missing nine games with the sore knee, and there’s been some rusty moments.
Donovan admittedly thought he was not very good in his first game back against Indiana, and then showed some life against Brooklyn and Houston. But there has to be more progress definitely made over the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign.
“The one area he falls into a lot because of his strength and his athleticism, he can get to spots on the floor and take those pullup, fadeaway jump shots,” Donovan said. “I’m not saying they’re bad shots for him. Certainly, later in the clock they’re good, but if you look across the league, generally those shots – maybe besides (Kevin) Durant and a few guys – it’s a tough shot to live with.
“The other part is getting his size, strength, athleticism into the game on every single possession and having the wherewithal and drive to do that. He’s been a very good defender for us, but can he be more active shot-blocking, can he be more active on the defensive glass, can he be more active on the offensive glass? Those things would allow him to see an evolution.”
Giddey up
Josh Giddey, who has been sidelined for over a week with an ankle sprain, went through live work before the Monday morning shootaround, and was able to jump and cut on the foot.
According to Donovan, the Bulls feel like they will get him back in the next few games, but the issue is which one? The Bulls play a back-to-back in Phoenix and then Sacramento, and they don’t want him playing in both.
If the guard does play against the Suns on Wednesday, he will sit out the game against the Kings.
Ball out?
Lonzo Ball was still experiencing pain in his injured right wrist back in Chicago, but Donovan does expect to see him back with the team at some point this week.
In all likelihood he will continue his rehab, see how it goes, and then rejoin the team in his hometown of Los Angeles on Friday, whether he’s able to play or not.