CLEVELAND – Feet to fire, Matas Buzelis would embrace getting more minutes at the smaller forward spot these days.
The reality of the situation for the Bulls, however, is that’s not a luxury they can always provide. At least not with the current roster construction.
On paper, Patrick Williams was drafted and then extended for $90 million to carry the muscle in the frontcourt through the 2028-29 season. Williams has played 16 total minutes in the back-to-back wins over Cleveland, scoring two points and going rebound-less. It’s safe to say it’s still not working out.
That leaves Buzelis as power forward by default.
Not a bad thing on most nights, but not exactly a matchup coach Billy Donovan looks forward to when the Bulls are taking on people movers like Zion Williamson or a Julius Randle.
“In fairness to Matas, there are matchups that are tough,” Donovan said. “He’s a second-year player that’s only going to get stronger, bigger and as he matures those matchups will be probably easier physically. When he is having to go hypothetically against a Julius Randle or a (Evan) Mobley, someone like that, those guys are playing close to the basket and they’re really physical. Those are tough matchups for a second-year player like Matas. So if you can get him to the small forward for some of the game – not all of the game – I don’t mind playing Matas with two bigs. I never looked at Matas as a big.”
Not only a fair assessment for now but one that Donovan has been addressing. Friday’s win over Cleveland was the best example of that.
As usual Buzelis started the game at the four – made easier with Mobley sidelined – but slid over to the three throughout the night as Donovan went with the two-big look of Zach Collins and Jalen Smith, adding a new wrinkle in by also teaming center Nikola Vucevic with Collins or Smith.
At one point, he even went with a jumbo look by giving Williams some minutes with Buzelis and two bigs as well.
It’s probably not a coincidence that Buzelis played one of his more efficient all-around games, finishing with 24 points, five rebounds, two blocks, two steals, and not a single turnover.
“Yeah, I’d say yeah, but wherever he puts me I’m going to do my best and try to work it out,” Buzelis replied when asked if he felt more at home at the three. “But I do feel comfortable when the two bigs come in. It’s not really a problem for me.
“Wherever he puts me I’m going to try and make something happen.”
What does that mean big picture for the 21-year-old? More time in the weightroom this upcoming offseason, which was already a guarantee, and executive vice president of basketball operations addressing the four more aggressively either in a trade, the draft or free agency.
Buzelis has the athleticism and attitude to capture the attention of the opposition for a decade. As a three, however, he could be a straight-up headache.
The Cavs found that out as Buzelis finished with just his second 20-plus game of the month.
“I just tried to be aggressive,” Buzelis said of his latest showing. “I just trust my skills every time I’m out there. Be in the present, one possession at a time. I’m grinding every possession and then I’m worried about the next one after no matter what the result is.”
Made easier when he’s 100% dialed in.
“I really felt like his attention to detail was really good and that’s been the big challenge we’ve been putting on him,” Donovan added of Buzelis. “I know a lot of times people look at the stat sheet and look at rebounds, certainly points or maybe what you shoot from the field, and those things are important, but they’re not on ESPN showing me a lot of times what impacts winning.
“There was a lot of discipline there.”