Chicago Bulls: Patrick Williams still needs to be more aggressive

Something that most Chicago Bulls fans were likely wanting to see from second-year forward Patrick Williams early this season was an increased level of confidence and assertiveness. In fact, it almost feels like assertive is too soft of a word for what Williams needs to show for the Bulls this season. Aggressiveness seems like a better term to use here.

Williams came out of the gates hot in the Las Vegas NBA Summer League, averaging more than 20 points per game. And he even looked solid in limited minutes on both ends of the floor in his one preseason game played with the Bulls in the finale against the Memphis Grizzlies back on Oct. 15.

But that trend of Williams showing more confidence on the offensive end of the floor, while maintaining a solid defensive presence, shied away from in the regular season opener on Oct. 20. As Williams and the Bulls took on the Detroit Pistons on the road on the night of Oct. 20, there wasn’t much scoring to come by, especially in the first half.

Patrick Williams still needs to get more looks with the Chicago Bulls

Star shooting guard Zach LaVine got going in the second half, as part of a game-high 34 points on a stellar opening night for him, to help the Bulls get the win in the end. But the offense definitely struggled out of the gates for the Bulls to the tune of just 40 points scored in the first half.

Williams did have some flashes in the first half of this game, including a nice pass for a lay-up from halfcourt from newly signed point guard Lonzo Ball. His flashes were limited, though, as he didn’t get the chance to rack up much of a stat line on opening night.

Posting the lowest usage rate of any starter on either the Pistons or Bulls on Oct. 20, Williams was very quiet offensively. In just shy of 29 minutes played, he registered just six points on two-of-three shooting from the field and a perfect two-of-two shooting from the free-throw line.

The only other statistical mark that Williams made on this game on offense was one turnover. He would wind up registering six points, one rebound, no assists, no steals, no blocks, and one turnover, in this game.

A usage rate of 7.5 percent and posting donuts in multiple other statistical categories is exactly the trend that the Bulls wanted to see Williams move away from. It’s good to see that he was efficient in the very limited opportunities he had to make an impact on this game.

Yet, Williams has too much potential and room to grow to not gain more confidence, especially on the offensive end of the floor. He’s not going to be the primary or secondary distributor or initiator in this offense. But he’s a good enough shooter, penetrator, and athlete to get more looks from the field than he did in the opener.

There is the potential excuse that second-year head coach Billy Donovan and the Bulls were just trying to work Williams back into the starting unit slowly. He just made his debut in game action for the Bulls less than one week ago in the preseason finale after working his way back from an ankle injury.

Following the win for Williams and the Bulls in the regular season opener over the Pistons on Oct. 20, the team owns a record of 1-0. Next up for the Bulls is the home opener at the United Center on Oct. 22 against the New Orleans Pelicans.