The hype can mess with the head of a 21-year-old.
As the Bulls are finding out about Matas Buzelis, he’s not most 21-year-olds.
“You try and get him prepared for what’s ready to come,” coach Billy Donovan said of how he’s coached Buzelis over the summer and leading into Wednesday’s tip-off of the regular season. “I think the guys that make the most growth and development are the guys that are really driven and are motivated. I think Matas displayed that last year. It could have been very easy for him to get dejected, especially with the way I coached him. Because quite honestly, I yanked him out of games when I felt he wasn’t doing the things I thought he could control. He leaned into that and wanted that.
“He’s very driven and very motivated. That’s a great start. I’ve seen a lot of guys that are really talented that you’re trying to wind up all the time to get them going. That’s difficult because that’s got to come from within.”
Which isn’t an issue for Buzelis so far.
The second-year forward has been very outspoken about wanting to be great, but also pointing out that accepting mistakes and staying humble are the foundation of that happening. Even in discussing how opposing teams will play him this season now that there’s more than enough game film to scout, Buzelis was excited by the idea rather than concerned.
“I’d say I’m more excited because I get to learn and see what I need to work on,” Buzelis said. “At the end of the day, I trust my skills whenever I’m out there. I believe I can do it. There’s always going to be a learning curve, but I’m excited to see it, for sure.”
And just in case Buzelis strays from that mindset, no doubt Donovan will let him know.
“It’s about Matas keeping himself grounded and driven,” Donovan said. “He has not arrived. He just hasn’t. And that’s just the truth. And I love Matas and think he’s got an unbelievable runway to be an outstanding player in this league if he keeps his drive and his motivation, and doesn’t think he’s arrived. The great ones are always driven, regardless of what’s going on around them.”
Ready or not
Backup center Jalen Smith saw his minutes and playing time dwindle last season, after the Bulls acquired Zach Collins. It felt like this year would be same old, same old for Smith, at least until last week when Collins had to have wrist surgery.
So there he was once again on Wednesday, backing up starting center Nikola Vucevic against the Pistons and patrolling the paint for that second unit.
“It’s about being professional,” Smith said of his approach in staying ready. “At the end of the day this is a big boy’s league. You can’t sulk and stuff like that. It’s out of my control. Continue to come to the gym every day and get better.”
As far as trying to stay in the rotation once Collins does return, Smith wasn’t overly concerned.
“Just play my game,” Smith said. “Doing the little things, doing the dirty things like diving for a loose ball, calling out picks and screens, blocking shots. Just finding different ways to impact the game.”
Up and running
Both Ayo Dosunmu and Patrick Williams were slowed in practice the last few days leading into the Pistons game, but by game time there were very few bumps and bruises Donovan concerned himself with.
Besides Coby White (calf strain) and Collins, not a single Bulls rotation player was on the injury list.
