No red flag for Bulls' Matas Buzelis as forward is starting to surge

It was a slight red flag right when it came out of the mouth of Matas Buzelis last week.

“I’m just trying to play the game the right way,” the Bulls forward insisted as a nightmarish 0-for-11 winless streak in February was coming to an end.

The right thing to say, especially for a 21-year-old still trying to find his way, but also all-too familiar babble that struggling Bulls players have said before, only to continue to underwhelm. It’s been a favorite credo of Patrick Williams when he’s asked about playing more aggressively, and even Coby White used to say it in his younger days before he took a jump in output.

So when Buzelis went to the cliché bag and pulled that one out, yeah, it was a moment to pause. At least until it wasn’t.

Buzelis and coach Billy Donovan had a heart-to-heart talk the night of Feb. 23 at the Advocate Center, and the message was clear: There are good shots and bad shots – take more good shots, and keep trying to do what it takes to impact winning.

Message heard.

In the three games since Buzelis and Donovan had the sit-down, all the second-year player has done is average 24 points per game, to go along with 21 total rebounds and nine assists, while shooting 52% from the field and 42.9% from three-point range. He’s only taken three real mid-range shots, making two – another part of his game Donovan spoke to him about – and he is trying to play with more physicality on both ends, evident by getting to the free throw line 11 times in the last two games.

In extending his streak of 20-plus points to a career-long three games, Buzelis joined Elton Brand, Luol Deng, and Lauri Markkanen as the only forwards in Bulls history to record such a streak at the age of 21 or younger.

Has it been the seismic jump that the Buzelis hype train was riding at the start of the season? No, but the top box that should be checked is the Bulls had a drain of talent at the trade deadline, and their young player has stepped up when called upon and needed.

“Honestly, I’m just trying to remain focused on one goal and that’s winning,” Buzelis said of his mindset since the roster was flipped. “It’s obviously going to be hard. You’re not just going to come in with seven new guys.

“It doesn’t matter how hard it’s going to be because we’re all in this together, we’re all on the same page. With the scoring and stuff, I’m just trying not to press and play the game the right way all the time. It will come.”

It has the last week and now it needs to stay.

Then there’s another layer to Buzelis that is picking up steam. Yes, he’s been a solid rim protector as long as he’s not tied up with a physical big, but he’s also allowed the fewest points per possession when opposing players go isolation on him.

Buzelis was 0.63 points allowed per possession, while Cooper Flagg and Kyshawn George were right behind him at 0.65. Again, statistics can be twisted a lot of different ways, especially because James Harden is also on this list (tied for sixth) and isn’t scaring anyone with his overall defense, but Buzelis currently has a better defensive efficiency rating than both Williams and Isaac Okoro – each considered defensive-minded wings.

These are all good things for Buzelis emerging as a two-way player and a franchise foundation piece, especially paired with his mindset.

“One thing I try to build is a short memory for myself and focusing on the next game,” Buzelis said. “As soon as I get out of the shower, you are onto the next game.”