Bulls want Matas Buzelis to develop winning habits
In the Bulls’ 131-106 loss to the Warriors on Thursday, forward Matas Buzelis played just 11:01 minutes. As the future of the Bulls takes shape with the Feb. 6 trade deadline on the horizon, Buzelis will be in constant discussions because of his lack of playing time.
Entering Saturday's game, Buzelis was 31st among rookies, averaging 12.7 minutes per game. But to coach Billy Donovan, Buzelis isn’t equipped right now to handle 30 minutes a night. Take the Golden State game, for example.
As soon as Buzelis checked into the game, the Warriors ran flex action to get Buzelis on Andrew Wiggins in the post. Because of his strength advantage, Wiggins comfortably got to the middle of the lane for a turnaround hook shot and drew enough contact for a foul.
Another game, another learning moment for the rookie.
“They targeted [Buzelis] right away, right when he got in the game,” Donovan said of Golden State. “ Wiggins went right at him, and that's a great learning experience for him because what you're seeing now in the NBA a lot is they're taking starters and staggering them and putting them in second units, and it's going to be matchups that he's got to learn and grow from.”
“Even though that was a two- or three-minute stint for him, I think that's valuable for him; he's got to understand it can't be okay."
Donovan said the Bulls want Buzelis to develop into a winning basketball player and that the rookie playing without consequences could lead Buzelis to develop some bad habits. The numbers are modest for Buzelis — 4.9 points and 2.7 rebounds on 37% shooting from the field — but Donovan is happy with the shot selection.
Given the team’s mediocre standing, Buzelis is the fan base’s reason for hope. His rangy frame and impressive athleticism give him unlimited upside. His flashes are tantalizing.
“[Buzelis] has got to understand the things that go into winning, how he can impact winning, and what are the things that he has to do on a consistent basis,” Donovan said.