Bulls' Buzelis Dribbles Towards Disappointment as Bulls' Offense Falters in Loss to Hornets.
Matas Buzelis's explosive performance on Friday may have stolen the show, but his team's 112-99 loss to Charlotte on Saturday served as a reminder that he still has a long way to go. The young forward's impressive runner in the first quarter was quickly followed by a collapse in the second half, where the Bulls were outscored 62-41 and outrebounded 30-18.
Coach Billy Donovan acknowledged that Buzelis's growth is not linear, citing "peaks" and "valleys" in his development. While he praised Buzelis's impressive three-pointer in the fourth quarter, he also noted that the rookie struggled with ball-handling skills and decision-making at times, which can lead to turnovers.
The Bulls' coaching staff has been working on developing Buzelis's all-around game, including adding ball-handling and decision-making skills. Donovan emphasized that his player "has great ball-handling skills" but needs to work on splitting defenders in certain situations. The coach also noted that Buzelis excels in pick-and-roll situations and bringing the ball up the floor.
Despite the struggles, Donovan remains optimistic about Buzelis's potential, saying, "Where he gets into trouble sometimes is when guys get under him because he's upright, and they really crowd him." The coach expressed confidence in Buzelis's instincts and ability to make plays.
The Bulls' front office, however, seems more focused on chasing a playoff spot than developing their young players. With a 17-18 record, the team is average at best, and losing to the Hornets for the second time this season has left many wondering if they're heading in the right direction.
For Buzelis, it's clear that he needs to be more proactive in responding to his mistakes. "I feel like the ball got a little stagnant [in the second half]," he said. "I was a part of that. I have to trust my teammates a little more." The young forward acknowledged that he's still learning and will work on being better at trusting his teammates.
In the end, Buzelis's growth is a work in progress, but with continued development and support from the coaching staff, there's hope that he'll become a key contributor for the Bulls.
Matas Buzelis's explosive performance on Friday may have stolen the show, but his team's 112-99 loss to Charlotte on Saturday served as a reminder that he still has a long way to go. The young forward's impressive runner in the first quarter was quickly followed by a collapse in the second half, where the Bulls were outscored 62-41 and outrebounded 30-18.
Coach Billy Donovan acknowledged that Buzelis's growth is not linear, citing "peaks" and "valleys" in his development. While he praised Buzelis's impressive three-pointer in the fourth quarter, he also noted that the rookie struggled with ball-handling skills and decision-making at times, which can lead to turnovers.
The Bulls' coaching staff has been working on developing Buzelis's all-around game, including adding ball-handling and decision-making skills. Donovan emphasized that his player "has great ball-handling skills" but needs to work on splitting defenders in certain situations. The coach also noted that Buzelis excels in pick-and-roll situations and bringing the ball up the floor.
Despite the struggles, Donovan remains optimistic about Buzelis's potential, saying, "Where he gets into trouble sometimes is when guys get under him because he's upright, and they really crowd him." The coach expressed confidence in Buzelis's instincts and ability to make plays.
The Bulls' front office, however, seems more focused on chasing a playoff spot than developing their young players. With a 17-18 record, the team is average at best, and losing to the Hornets for the second time this season has left many wondering if they're heading in the right direction.
For Buzelis, it's clear that he needs to be more proactive in responding to his mistakes. "I feel like the ball got a little stagnant [in the second half]," he said. "I was a part of that. I have to trust my teammates a little more." The young forward acknowledged that he's still learning and will work on being better at trusting his teammates.
In the end, Buzelis's growth is a work in progress, but with continued development and support from the coaching staff, there's hope that he'll become a key contributor for the Bulls.
but like he's only been playin 4 a few yrs how can u expect him 2 be perfect 
at least he's tryin and ownin up 2 his mistakes 
and coach dontin is right 2 boot the coach is all about developin ur skills n stuff 
but like the team gotta get it 2gthr if they wanna make playoffs 
they got so much potencial in buzelis, but its like dey dont know how 2 utilze him 
coach donovan sounds like he knows wht hes doin tho 
but whats up wit da front office? dey need 2 focus on developin da youngins rather than just chasin dat playoff spot 
. buzelis needs 2 take more initiative & trust his teammates, thats wut hes sayin 
& i got faith in him, he'll get dere 
. Like, I'm happy they're trying to develop them and all, but sometimes you just gotta have a solid team already, right? 
. My friend's little brother is super good at dribbling a basketball in his sleep 
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. Where's the excitement? The thrill of victory? It feels like they're just phoning it in at times... anyway, I guess Buzelis still has time to work on his game and become a key contributor 
. The Bulls need to work on developing his all-around game, especially those skills that are giving him trouble. But for real, I love Buzelis's optimism and willingness to learn 
- he's got this! 
! They're all hyped up on their potential, but it seems like they're not putting in enough work to actually get better. Buzelis is a great example - one game he's got 20+ points and the next he's struggling mightily. It's like he's still in training mode 
It's just so frustrating! 
. It's cool to see Matas Buzelis making a name for himself, but at the same time, I'm worried about the team's overall strategy. Are they focusing on winning games rather than developing their young players? It feels like they're playing it safe and not taking as many risks as they could be 
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. And maybe they can get some help from the coaching staff to iron out those ball-handling skills 
. Overall, it's still early days for this young forward, but I'm intrigued to see how he develops in the coming weeks 
It seems like the Bulls' front office needs to reevaluate their priorities. All this focus on chasing a playoff spot isn't helping the young players develop, especially Buzelis. He's got potential, but it's time for the coaching staff to help him work on his weaknesses instead of just relying on his strengths. 
, but he needs to be more proactive about trusting his teammates and making plays himself 
. It's not like they're getting any younger on this team, so it's time for the front office to focus on building a strong core #BullsFrontOffice #NBAPlayoffs
#BullsNation #NBA
I'm literally SHOOK by this game!! 
He's got skills for DAYS!!! 
I know he had that one bad half where the Bulls lost 62-41, but COME ON!!! 
Their offense is ranked 12th in the league, but that's not exactly setting the world on fire 
He's averaging 17 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, which is solid for a rookie, but he can't just rely on his scoring 
Can the Bulls' coaching staff get Buzelis's game up to par? 
i mean, matas is showin' promise, but he can't do it alone