As of late, Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan has experimented with different lineups in an effort to get his team back on track after a seven-game losing streak. Donovan has continued to go 11 deep, but he has trimmed Patrick Williams’ minutes, emphasized keeping his core four around the 30-minute mark, shortened Nikola Vučević’s stints, and, perhaps most importantly, begun to toy with double-big lineups.
It’s been a sight for sore eyes as Donovan has finally made the requisite changes to steady Chicago’s sinking season—and, so far, they’ve paid off as the Bulls have won three straight.
Williams has struggled, particularly from inside the arc; Josh Giddey and other starters have often been overtaxed; Vučević is 35; and the Bulls’ lack of physicality has proven far too costly. Those issues underpin Donovan’s recent decisions, and while his double-big lineups highlight the versatility of Vučević, Zach Collins, and Jalen Smith, the seemingly revolutionary approach has benefited Matas Buzelis most.
Buzelis has shrugged off the sophomore slump
At 6-foot-8, Buzelis has the height of a power forward, but his slim 209-pound frame is more reminiscent of a small forward. He isn’t necessarily built to play the four, but because of Chicago’s roster construction, he often has little choice.
Nonetheless, Donovan’s two-big lineups have given Buzelis the flexibility to slide down to the three when needed. In the Bulls’ most recent contest—a two-point win over the Atlanta Hawks—Buzelis logged just four minutes at small forward, during which Chicago was a plus-1. Still, his increased comfort level has been evident throughout the Bulls’ recent slate of games. Even when he isn’t primarily playing the three, the ability to shift him down a position eases the burden and could pay dividends down the road.
Over the Bulls’ last three games, Buzelis is averaging 20.3 points while shooting 66.7 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from beyond the arc. While those numbers are buoyed by his 28-point outing against the Hawks, his play in December has still marked a noticeable improvement over November.
Donovan’s recent lineup alterations have shown early promise, but the real test lies ahead. Since spending more time at the three, Buzelis has yet to be tasked with defending the bulkier forwards who gave him trouble earlier in the season. That will soon change, as Chicago is set to face Giannis Antetokounmpo, Julius Randle, Zion Williamson, and Paolo Banchero over a four-game stretch.
As a result, these upcoming contests should force Donovan to lean even further into his double-big lineups—revealing whether this iteration is truly paying off. Saying Buzelis belongs at the three is one thing; producing sustained results is another.
If anything, more on-ball reps should benefit Buzelis. His November dry spell was largely due to reduced aggression following Coby White’s return and the team’s overall struggles. Far too often, the 21-year-old resorted to hoisting spot-up triples. More recently, Buzelis has gotten to the line with greater frequency and shown more willingness to put the ball on the deck—both essential to unlocking the best version of the former 11th overall pick.