Bulls fall in Orlando, but education of rookie Matas Buzelis continues

It’s not ideal to be without forward Patrick Williams.

After all, the Bulls gave him a five-year, $90 million extension last summer, and now that his left foot is acting up again, it’s not exactly a return on investment.

But don’t tell that to rookie Matas Buzelis.

Life without Williams has meant opportunity for the 6-10 rookie, and when opportunity knocks for Buzelis, he doesn’t just want to take advantage of it. He wants to try to dunk on it.

“[The playing time is] very important,” Buzelis said. “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 evident Tuesday against the Wizards, then a night later in the Bulls’ 133-119 loss to the Magic.

In just over 17 minutes against Washington, Buzelis scored nine points, shot 4-for-7 from the field, grabbed four rebounds and added a steal and a blocked shot. The sledding was a bit tougher Wednesday against the Magic. Buzelis had seven points and was in foul trouble.

Before this latest game, however, in a three-game sample, he averaged 10.7 points and 3.7 rebounds and had four blocks. More important, the Bulls went 2-1.

The bigger picture since mid-November has seen growth from the 11th overall pick. 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 blocks (third in the rookie class).

Not that Buzelis is even close to a finished product.

This is about taking steps, and it’s not a quick climb. Coach Billy Donovan is well aware of that.

“I think with Matas, I like his aggressiveness,” Donovan said of Buzelis’ showing against the Wizards. “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.”

And Buzelis isn’t alone in that respect.

A big part of the defensive slippage for the Bulls in the last month has been attributable to 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 has 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 weight room, 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 said. “The confidence rises.”

Now if Donovan could only get that attitude from his entire roster. He 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 first 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 this time.

Ayo Dosunmu led the Bulls (8-12) with 21 points.