In the event of a victory this evening, against the Celtics, the Bulls will qualify for the quarter-finals of the NBA Cup. Despite some twists of fate, to which they have been accustomed for several seasons, Billy Donovan's players are hanging on to the right wagon with 40% victories, and the good news is that Matas Buzelis takes advantage of the absence of Patrick Williams to show off.
It should be remembered that a month ago, after three matches, he was barely averaging 1.7 points with seven minutes of play per match. He was one of the rookies who played the least…
“Playing time is very important” concedes Matas Buzelis. “I look at this as an opportunity to play in the NBA. I'm very grateful to be able to play. Every time I step onto the field, I consider it a privilege. I don't take this for granted. But every time I step on the field, I will continue to learn, to improve. »
Watch out for defense…
Much more modest than before the Draft, the Lithuanian brings his enthusiasm and his “slasher” qualities. He obviously makes rookie mistakes, but recently, over a three-game span, he averaged nearly 11 points per game, and the Bulls had won two games. Since mid-November, he has averaged 7.3 points per game at 43% from 3-point range, and ranks 3rd among rookies in blocking.
“What I like about Matas is his aggressiveness” explained Billy Donovan after the victory against the Wizards. “He remains aggressive. Communication on defense needs to continue to improve, but he remains aggressive. He takes his shots when they're there, and that's what I like. He doesn't hesitate. And we need him to take those shots. The most important thing for him defensively is his ability to communicate.”
He doesn't get discouraged
Like many rookies, defense remains a problem but it's about learning to know your opponents and their habits, and anticipating their movements. Without forgetting communication to help, and calling for help. “My confidence is higher, and still growing” he sums up about his current good time.
Tonight, he will challenge Jayson Tatum and the NBA champions, and Billy Donovan wants to see him face the big names.
“As a young player, the thing I think you want to see most of all is how guys react in difficulty. He's twenty years old, isn't he? He's going to have to show a lot of humility, but what I admire is that he always comes back and understands that there is a learning curve for him in this process. This is what benefited him. I've seen a lot of young players make mistakes, get discouraged or make mistakes and be afraid to do anything… If he does something, he tries to learn from it and move on. Before. This does not discourage him in his energy and his way of playing. »
