Chicago Bulls: Player predictions for the final 20 games

Chicago Bulls player prediction: Patrick Williams minutes drop off

Similarly to Aminu, Williams is someone I think could see a decrease in court action as the games become more do or die. He isn’t playing well right now and that seems to have gotten to his confidence.

Obviously, the team won’t and shouldn’t bench their rookie, but he should find less time on the court if he continues slowing the rest of the team down.

He can still get good run and spend time on the opponent’s best offensive players. Who knows, maybe it would build his confidence and he would help some of the weaker lineups that tend to fall apart when LaVine or Vooch gets a breather.

More from Pippen Ain't Easy

• The dream starting 5 for the Chicago Bulls 5 years from now
• Bulls’ Ayo Dosunmu inspires the future with new school program
• Chicago Bulls NBA 2K24 full roster ratings, risers, and fallers
• Bulls sign a pair of promising guards to Exhibit 10 contracts
• When does NBA Training Camp start? Dates Bulls fans need to know

Williams is a long-term play for the Bulls. He has picked up a ton of valuable experience and knowledge this year but seems to have hit a wall to an extent. The Bulls may see themselves needing to have him on the court less just for competitive reasons.

Entering the final 20 games of his rookie NBA season Williams is scoring 9.9 points per game. Not eye-popping but also not fair to the effort and work he has been putting in on the other end on a nightly basis.

Chicago Bulls player prediction: Daniel Theis averages double-digit points

The energetic and physical Daniel Theis has already proven to be a key player for the Chicago Bulls. That is partly due to him and partly due to the Bulls complete lack of players that enjoy getting physical.

You can’t have a team full of guys who are scared of contact and Theis has brought so much energy to the court just by having that mental approach. In seven games before the team’s last 20 games, Theis averaged 8 points per game.

The value his energy and style brings will earn him more and more minutes as the playoff race comes down to the wire. That is a key part of why I see him averaging over 10 points per contest. His defense and style will earn him the minutes and his underrated offense will help him score more than 10 per game for the team.