TITLE: Buzelis Shows Muscle, Essengue Debuts as Bulls Evaluate Frontcourt Options
SLUG: buzelis-shows-muscle-essengue-debuts-bulls-evaluate-frontcourt-options
CONTENT:
CHICAGO — Second-year forward Matas Buzelis has embraced the physical style favored by head coach Billy Donovan after adding 10 pounds of muscle during the offseason. Donovan said he expected “a great year of growth” and praised Buzelis for being “eager to improve.”
The 20-year-old is averaging 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 27.8 minutes, increases across nearly every category from his rookie campaign. “Most of the time the best defender is guarding me and that puts a target on my back,” Buzelis said. “I like that—that’s how I’m going to get better.”
Essengue’s First NBA Minutes
Rookie center Noa Essengue, selected 12th overall in June, appeared for the first time in the Bulls’ 16th game, logging four minutes and missing his only attempt. “It was nice to get on the court with my teammates,” Essengue said. Donovan noted he “was happy I could throw him in there” but wants to see the 6-foot-11 big man “get his motor going a little bit more.”
Smith Expected to Stay in Rotation
Donovan indicated that Jalen Smith will continue receiving minutes even after Zach Collins returns from wrist surgery. Comparing the approach to how the Spurs and Cavaliers deploy multiple bigs, Donovan said the staff “may have to look at two bigs together or playing three bigs rotationally.” Smith is averaging 10.1 points and 5.9 rebounds in 16.4 minutes while shooting 37.1% from three for the 9-7 club.
Vucevic Calls for Tougher Mind-Set
Despite Saturday’s one-point win over Washington, veteran center Nikola Vucevic criticized the Bulls for being “very soft” for three quarters. “We gave no resistance,” he said. “I don’t think we understand that it’s just not sustainable to play this way.” A post-game celebration by Buzelis briefly annoyed the veteran, and the young forward later conceded, “He believes that we should beat that team by a lot more, and I totally agree with him.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
