Billy Donovan starting to unlock rookie's potential in newfound role

The Chicago Bulls are 2-1 over their last three contests with wins over the Denver Nuggets and Toronto Raptors and the only loss coming in Boston against the reigning NBA Champion Celtics while missing leading scorer Zach LaVine.

Each of the last three contests has two things in common. First, struggling former fourth-overall pick Patrick Williams has come off the bench and impressed. In Williams' previous three contests, he's averaged 12.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while shooting 44.1 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from downtown.

Despite the shift in role, Williams is averaging 29.1 minutes per game and suiting up for much of the fourth quarter. With the 6-foot-8 Williams no longer a starter, Head Coach Billy Donovan has opted to employ a four-guard lineup. Instead of Williams, Donovan has started Lonzo Ball, who first entered the starting five in place of the injured Ayo Dosunmu. However, despite Dosunmu returning to action, Ball has continued to suit up alongside Vucevic and Co.

Buzelis has taken on a new role as the Bulls' sixth-man

After his demotion from the opening unit, it would be assumed, especially since his minutes have increased, that Williams' new role would be that of the Bulls' sixth man. However, that hasn't been the case. Donovan has turned to rookie Matas Buzelis as Chicago's first player off the bench. Against the Nuggets, Buzelis entered the game for Ball with just under seven minutes remaining in the first quarter. Williams waited three minutes longer than Buzelis to enter that contest—subbing in for Dosunmu with four minutes to go.

While Williams ended up receiving more playing time than Buzelis, the rookie still received 20 minutes of action and played well. The 20-year-old scored nine points, grabbed four rebounds, and added two assists in the victory. Furthermore, Buzelis converted 4-of-5 field goals and recorded Chicago's fourth-best plus/minus of the night at plus-10.

Two nights later, without LaVine, Coby White returned from injury to take the two-time All-Star's place in the starting lineup. Like Chicago's game in Denver, Donovan called upon the rookie as the first player off the Bulls' bench. This time, Buzelis entered the game for Ball after four and a half minutes. Williams would enter the game nearly two minutes later for White.

In 22 minutes versus the Celtics, Buzelis dropped 12 points and added four rebounds. He went 4-of-6 from the floor, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. Most recently, in a contest against the Raptors, Buzelis only waited four minutes before entering the game for Josh Giddey. Meanwhile, Williams was called upon about a minute later, subbing Ball out of the game.

Buzelis was arguably the most effective against Toronto of the Bulls' recent three contests. He led all players, recording a plus/minus of plus-18 in the 22-point victory. In 26 minutes of action, the 6-foot-10 forward scored 12 points and hauled in seven rebounds. For the second game in a row, he knocked down 2-of-4 three-pointers. Perhaps most impressive, Buzelis tied his career-high with three blocks. Despite averaging the ninth-most minutes of the team, Buzelis paces the Bulls in total blocks and blocks per game.

Buzelis' new role has unlocked an entirely different player. After seeing a decrease in minutes, points, and rebounds from December to January, Buzelis shined over his last three games. The rookie has averaged 11.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks as the Bulls have gone 2-1. Besides the encouraging counting stats, Buzelis has scored with incredible efficiency. He's shot 63.2 percent from the field and 55.6 percent from three since January 27.

The late-month surge led to a month-best field goal and three-point percentage. Buzelis finished January shooting 47.1 percent from the floor and 39.4 percent from distance. Donovan's lineup change has benefitted both Williams and Buzelis thus far. Over Chicago's last three games, the Bulls have outscored opponents by an average of 8.0 points whenever both forwards have shared the floor. While a Sixth Man of the Year Award is likely out of the question for both young wings, it's encouraging to witness both players' games blossom after a relatively disappointing start to the 2024-25 campaign.