Bulls forward Matas Buzelis has had to guard up the positional spectrum and defend bigger forwards as the Bulls’ optimal power forward.
Buzelis added 10 pounds of muscle to endure more of that contract and dish out some punishment of his own. But as the Bulls tinker with lineup configurations to escape this recent skid they’ve been on, Buzelis’ role might get changed around. The Bulls have started pairing Zach Collins and Jalen Smith in lineups together to address some of the team’s rebounding woes.
But how the shift affects Buzelis is worth monitoring as he shifts to a small forward role. Offensively, coach Billy Donovan said, not much will change for the talented second-year forward. He’ll still handle the ball in pick-and-roll settings and attack closeouts when the opportunity presents itself. Buzelis entered Sunday averaging 13.8 points on 46.9% shooting.
But defensively, it is where the learning curve is more challenging for younger players. And for Buzelis, the issue will come from guarding more perimeter-oriented players.
“I think Matas has the foot speed and length to be able to do that,” Donovan said of Buzelis guarding on the perimeter. “Certain guys will be a little bit more dynamic and [a] little bit more challenging, but I feel pretty confident with his foot speed and his length that he can guard multiple positions.”
‘Where are we?’
Coach Billy Donovan was flummoxed pregame.
He couldn’t understand why the Bulls have been getting outscored in transition while failing to attack the offensive glass. The Pelicans blitzed the Bulls for 143 points in their last meeting, thriving in transition and being comfortable playing at the high-octane space the Bulls try to impose on teams.
“They have been incredibly dominant in the paint [and] incredibly dominant at the rim,” Donovan said. “Nw that that happens from a variety of different reasons: [It’s] them playing off the bounce [and] getting to the rim, it’s the offensive rebounding, it’s the cutting, getting some layups and and all those things kind of coupled together have enabled them to, you know, put up some really remarkable numbers at the at the rim, so that that’s going to be certainly a priority.”
Donovan has also been dismayed by his team’s lack of resistance in transition.
“Where are we?” Donovan said. “So much of the game now is about [answering] back. Whether you score, [you’re] answering back to defense, or whether you get scored against, answering back to offense. We’ve got to be better there.”
The Bulls entered 22nd in offensive rebounding rate and 21st in points allowed per 100 possessions in transition. The key for the Bulls, as currently constructed, is to beat the other teams in transition at a breakneck pace.
Banged up Bulls
Guard Ayo Dosunmu (right thumb sprain) was out for Sunday’s game against the Pelicans. Donovan said the hope is that Dosunmu returns for the Cleveland game on Wednesday.