Tag: Patrick Williams

Bulls player grades: Season-best night for DeMar DeRozan in loss vs. Celtics

Grading the Chicago Bulls after a 123-119 loss on Friday in Boston.

The Chicago Bulls (5-5) took their 2-game win streak into TD Garden on Friday night to face the Boston Celtics and lost 123-119. After beating the Celtics 120-102 on October 24th, the regular-season series is now 1-1.

Despite guard DeMar DeRozan erupting for a season-high 46 points (13-23 from the field, 20-22 from the free-throw line), Chicago could not complete the comeback. Center Nikola Vucevic scored an efficient 24 points while pulling down 12 rebounds while guard Zach LaVine had a decent game of 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals.

Chicago shot 51.8% from the field and 39.3% from beyond the arc, but they allowed Boston forward Jayson Tatum (36 points) and guard Malcolm Brogdon (25 points) to make shots when it mattered the most.

Here are the player grades for Friday’s game:

‘Not a demotion’: Billy Donovan on starting Javonte Green over Patrick Williams

Javonte Green started over Patrick Williams in the Bulls’ second preseason game.

In the Bulls’ second preseason game on Friday, Billy Donovan called on Javonte Green in the starting lineup in place of Patrick Williams.

Following Friday’s victory, Donovan said he didn’t see the lineup change as a ‘demotion’.

“To me, it’s a preseason game. I don’t view it that way. I don’t think Patrick does either. The last thing I would call it would be a demotion,” Donovan said. “He’s (Patrick) here to help our team in any way he can help our team, whether he comes off the bench or starts.”

Green has been a standout in the first two preseason games, scoring 18 points against the Pelicans and 15 points in Friday’s win against the Nuggets.

“Javonte with that group brings a lot of energy. He just makes things happen, hustle plays, loose balls, offensive rebounds, getting out in transition,” Donovan said. “He’ll drive it, find an open man. He’s really a high energy guy with whoever he’s playing with. When you put Javonte out there, you know what you’re going to get.”

For Williams, he seemed to remain positive with the lineup change, knowing that his job is ‘to be ready’ no matter the circumstances.

“I didn’t really think too much into it. When he told me, I was all for it,” Williams said. “My job is to be productive and use my talents to try to help the team win. I think that’s everybody’s job. It’s not up to me when or where my name gets called. My job is to be ready whenever my name is called.”

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Billy Donovan on Patrick Williams: ‘We need him to take another step’

Chicago is banking on the development of Williams in his third season.

One of the biggest storylines for the Bulls this season will be the development of forward Patrick Williams, who head coach Billy Donovan said at media day needs to ‘take another step.’

“We need him to take another step as a player and I think he can do that…he has a couple of years under his belt, although last year was cut short for him. I still think this was a very, very good summer for his progress going into this season.”

Williams’ development was put on pause last season as he only played 17 games, missing most of the season due to injury. But this offseason, Williams has been fully healthy and a constant in the gym.

“I think everybody knows that him being more aggressive is where it starts,” Donovan said. “To me there’s been part of his development that’s been missed, certainly going into last year and this is probably been the first normal offseason he’s had.”

Zach LaVine mentioned at media day that Williams worked out with his trainer, Drew Hanlen, during the offseason. At exit interviews following losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first-round last season, DeMar DeRozan said that Williams would be joining him in Los Angeles for workouts during the offseason.

And join DeRozan he did.

“I think he put me through everything,” Williams said. “If that wasn’t everything, then he’s different.”

Williams said at media day that the and DeRozan did two-a-days with the workouts beginning at 5 A.M., working through lifting, conditioning, and in-game drills.

“Everything DeMar does is mental, so you’re going to take a jump in terms of how you look at things, how you approach whatever it may be, whether it’s a practice or a game or whatever,” Williams said. “Whether it’s life or basketball, just how you approach things, how he approaches things is something I kind of picked up on.

If Williams can indeed take that next step for the Bulls this season, watch out.

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Bulls view Patrick Williams as a core piece as they move forward

The Chicago Bulls view Patrick Williams as a core piece as they all move forward.

The Chicago Bulls, when healthy, were one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference in the 2021-22 season. Their trio of Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan were terrorizing opponents and they had the Bulls succeeding at a high level.

Then a slew of injuries hit Ball, LaVine, and Patrick Williams and Chicago slumped to the No. 6 seed in the East and fell in five games to the Milwaukee Bucks in Round 1.

As the Bulls move forward, they do have some questions to answer in terms of their roster, but per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on “The Hoop Collective” podcast, one question that seems answered is the status of Williams who was limited to 17 games in his second season.

Windhorst, talking to Tim Bontemps, on Williams:

They put a lot into Patrick Williams they believe a lot in him. Bontemps, you talked about two-way wings, they think that that’s type of guy who can be a core player for them. They think you know, ‘okay, we don’t have Franz Wagner, but we have Patrick Williams.’

Williams averaged 9.0 points and 4.1 rebounds in his second NBA season and he shot 51.7% from deep on 1.7 attempts per game. If he does come out and perform on both ends of the floor in the 2022-23 season, then Chicago’s chances to succeed go up in a huge way.

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5 players from the 2020 draft class with the most to prove in 2022-23

Rookie Wire took a look at five players from the 2020 NBA draft class that need to have strong 2022-23 campaigns.

The rookie class of 2020 entered the NBA with plenty of hype but faced much uncertainty and other related issues due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The group was not afforded the opportunity of a summer league, and had a truncated training camp and preseason schedule due to the nature of the 72-game schedule that year. Certainly, the class had its fair share of hurdles it had to overcome.

Since then, several players have emerged and had tremendous starts to their careers, including NBA Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton. Elsewhere, others have needed additional time to get going due to various factors.

Now, with the class entering its third year in the NBA, several players — including some high draft picks — have yet to really take off and are still looking to find their footing. The class is extension eligible next summer, and many still need to prove themselves.

As a result, we decided to take a look at some of those draftees that enter the 2022-23 campaign with a lot to prove for their respective teams ahead of such an important season.

B/R picks Bulls trio as the most important improvement for 2022-23

Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, and Patrick Williams could form an elite defensive trio.

Coming out of the offseason, it’s crucial for team’s to see improvement and growth in their young players ahead of another long, grueling season.

Whether that’s improvement on their jumpshot, being in better shape, or being more attentive and active on the defensive end, it all matters on day one of training camp.

Mo Dakhil of Bleacher Report put together a list of the most important player improvement for each team in 2022-23. For the Chicago Bulls, Dakhil called on the trio of Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, and Patrick Williams to create a defensive unit.

Dakhil:

The trio of Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso and Patrick Williams is the key to Chicago’s success. The Bulls had a great start last season but injuries to Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso took out their defensive backbone. Williams missed most of the year, returning to play 17 games—but Ball was already out at that point.

With Ball returning healthy (he might be ready by training camp), Alex Caruso and Williams can form an even stronger defensive lineup for the Bulls. This would allow for coach Billy Donovan to play any mix of the trio if not all at once to cover for the defensive warts of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic.

The Bulls had a top 10 offensive and defensive team before the calendar changed. The talent is there, but once injuries hit the Bulls defense tumbled down to 23rd by the end of the year. If those three can stay healthy and DeRozan, LaVine and Vucevic keep up their offensive output, the Bulls could be in the mix for a top four finish in the East.

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Dakhil is right — when healthy in the fall of last season, the Bulls were a force on both sides of the floor. With above average to elite perimeter defenders in Ball, Caruso, and Williams, the Bulls were able to hide the average to below average defensive prowess of DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine on the perimeter.

With health for the 2022-23 season, and only health, this trio can fortify Chicago’s defense and take the Bulls to the next level.

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DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Williams team up at Drew League

The two Bulls teammates combined for 50 points in the win on Saturday.

The Drew League is always a spectacle in the summer as NBA players show up and show out for fans on an almost weekly basis.

On Saturday, Bulls teammates DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Williams and rookie Dalen Terry popped up to play for Cheaters, helping them get the win, led by DeRozan’s 36 points to celebrate his 33rd birthday.

Patrick Williams finished with a double-double — 14 points and 14 rebounds — alongside DeRozan’s 36 points.

DeRozan, who played in the Drew League a few weeks ago alongside Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, has been a staple at the Drew for years.

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Report: East executive says Bulls have ‘overvalued’ Patrick Williams

Is Patrick Williams being untouchable in trade talks hurting Chicago’s chances on acquiring another star?

The Chicago Bulls have been mentioned throughout the offseason in several trade rumors, whether that’s for Rudy Gobert or Kevin Durant.

With those rumors, one thing has remained constant: the Bulls have no interest in trading Patrick Williams.

Heavy’s Sean Deveney spoke to an Eastern Conference executive, who said that the Bulls have ‘overvalued’ the 20-year-old forward.

“They’ve overvalued Patrick Williams,” the executive said. “Teams have had an interest in him, and they shut that down pretty fast. I get it; he was (the current front office’s) first pick, and they have a lot invested in him. And he has shown some flashes, they put a lot on his plate from the get-go. But is he going to take that leap? You want to see him play with a little force, you want him to have a presence. That has not been there, and I just think that when you put together a team that is designed to kind of go for it now, then you should go all in. I think they’ll regret the Gobert thing, not putting Williams into a deal there. That would have made them a factor in the East.”

The executive makes a good point — will Williams make that leap? Of course, he has dealt with injuries, only playing 17 games last season, but for Chicago to take a leap into a legit contender, Williams must make that leap himself.

The tools are there. The body and athleticism is there. But can he put it all together, specifically on the offensive end, to become the well-rounded two-way star that the Bulls’ front office hopes for?

Only time will tell.

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Report: Bulls exploring trade market for Nikola Vucevic and Coby White

Chicago has been rumored to be interested in acquiring Utah’s Rudy Gobert.

The Chicago Bulls are one of the most interesting teams to watch coming into this offseason.

With the pending free agency of Zach LaVine, the Bulls find themselves in a crucial decision making process for their franchise going forward.

Along with LaVine’s decision comes numerous trade rumors. Reported by Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, the Bulls continue to ‘explore the trade market’ throughout their roster, including upgrading at center.

Fischer writes:

Meanwhile, the Bulls remain invested in finding the optimal frontcourt lynchpin to pair with LaVine and DeRozan. Chicago continues to explore the trade market for two-time All-Star center Nikola Vucevic, sources said. It has registered interest in Rudy Gobert, but the Bulls do not appear willing to include Patrick Williams alongside Vucevic in a trade package for Gobert, sources told B/R.

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Parting with the youth and upside of Williams is a call that the front office will have to decide on, especially if it brings back a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year in return.

Fischer added that the Bulls are ‘actively discussing’ deals revolving around guard Coby White and the No. 18 pick in the 2022 NBA draft. White is set to become a free agent next offseason.

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Patrick Williams scores career-high 35 points in Bulls season finale

The Bulls finished out the regular season with a 124-120 win over the Timberwolves.

The Chicago Bulls finished out the 2021-22 regular season on Sunday night with a road victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, 124-120.

The Bulls were playing without their core of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic, who were resting ahead of the playoffs with already clinching the No. 6 seed.

In their absence, it was Patrick Williams who led the way for Chicago, scoring a career-high 35 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists while knocking down 3-of-5 from 3-point range and 12-of-14 free throws.

Ayo Dosunmu also scored a career-high, finishing with 26 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals on 9-of-18 shooting from the floor and 3-of-6 from downtown.

Check out highlights from Patrick Williams’ career-high performance below.

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