Still physically tender, Matas Bouzelis slipped to 3rd place
« Wherever he positions me, I will do my best and try to adapt », coward Matas Buzelis. And this, even if his coach Billy Donovan decides to play him again in a position where he has not been used much since the beginning of the season: the 3 position.
Against the Cavs this week, he found himself back at the 4. But, with Evan Mobley out opposite, he was able to slip to the 3, while Zach Collins and Jaylen Smith, in relays for Nikola Vucevic, took the Bulls’ racket in the series.
The idea was to prevent Matas Bouzelis from constantly rubbing against more physical interiors than him, such as left-handers Zion Williamson or Julius Randle. ” To be fair to Matas, there are some tough matchups. He’s a second-year player who will get stronger, bigger, and as he matures, those matchups will likely be physically easier “, his coach said.
He was never considered great
The latter reminds us that Randle or Mobley like to use their muscles to play near the basket.
« So if we can put him on the wing for part of the game – not the whole game – I don’t mind playing Matas with two bigs. I never considered him big », defends Billy Donovan, referring to his 2m03 winger, whose body shape is nevertheless very long.
This adjustment coincided with his player’s best performance in recent weeks: 24 points (9/15 shooting including 2/8 from distance), 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks against the Cavs. “ I feel comfortable when two big guys are on the court. It’s really not a problem for me », confides the 21-year-old player who tries to be aggressive in all configurations.
Still, this situation may have to prompt the Bulls to try to shore up the No. 4 position. Because at the same time, Patrick Williams, who is posting a career-worst average, is in freefall. During a doubleheader against the Cavaliers, he collected… 2 total points in just 16 minutes of play.
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| Matas Buzelis | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | The team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | That | Pd | Ft | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2024-25 | CHI | 80 | 18:53 | 45.4 | 36.1 | 81.5 | 0.7 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 8.6 |
| 2025-26 | CHI | 27 | 28:09 | 47.7 | 31.4 | 80.8 | 1.1 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 13.8 |
How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.
2025-12-21 15:01:00
