Over the previous eight games, Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams has averaged 13.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 blocks.
He’s also been efficient, with 64% true shooting and a 44.8% three-point percentage in that time.
“Not really thinking about anything, really,” Williams remarked of the increase in output, according to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times on December 8. “I’m just going out there and playing hard.” You make shots, you miss shots, you get back on defense, you have a next-shot attitude. It’s been effective for me.”
Williams’ return to the starting lineup coincides with the comeback. He had a berth to start the season. He lost it, however, due to a lack of production and consistency. Williams has started seven of those games since his return. The last four – all wins – have come without Zach LaVine in the lineup. The streak follows a five-game skid.
Williams has previously mentioned his trouble fitting in with the trio of LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic.
The fourth-year pro’s hardest challenge has typically been the mental aspect of the game.
However, head coach Billy Donovan did not believe LaVine’s absence was the catalyst for the Bulls’ comeback.
“I’ve never heard Coby [White], Patrick, Ayo [Dosunmu], Dalen [Terry], or Julian [Phillips] say, ‘I’m always on the lookout for [LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, or Nikola Vucevic].” ‘I feel like I have to throw the ball to them,’ Donovan said Cowley. “Perhaps when one of those [three] guys is out, they think to themselves, ‘I’ve got to step up more; I’ve got to be more aggressive. Williams, for one, averaged more points with LaVine in this recent stretch than without”.
Zach LaVine’s Absence Good for Patrick Williams, Bulls
The Bulls will have more time to assess their prospective future sans LaVine. After undergoing a PRP injection in his foot to relieve inflammation, the two-time All-Star will be out for three to four weeks.
That may be beneficial for Williams, who scored 20 points against the San Antonio Spurs.
Billy Donovan talks about Patrick Williams' game tonight
PWill: 20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 8-of-11 FG pic.twitter.com/RgIjqAzcp9
— Bulls Talk (@NBCSBulls) December 9, 2023
According to Cleaning The Glass, when LaVine shares the floor with DeRozan, White, Williams, and Vucevic, the Bulls have a minus-11.2 net efficiency differential.
With anyone other than LaVine as the fifth man, their difference is plus-16.9.
If Williams can keep this up, it could be a godsend to him. He was the fourth overall pick and the first draft pick of Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas. But his future with the club was put in doubt after the contract extension deadline passed without a settlement.
Coby White Playing Like an ‘All-Star’
Williams is hardly the only young Bull who has recently flourished. White has proven Donovan’s previous evaluation correct. Donovan stated after last season that the fifth-year guy was better prepared than previous years to be the Bulls’ starting point guard this season.
Despite having his poorest statistical season to date, White made enormous progress last season.
This season, he is averaging 15.6 points on 57.5% true shooting, 4.3 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.9 steals. White is averaging 21.8 points on 68.5% true shooting over the last nine games. He also converts 52.4% of his 9.1 downtown attempts. Kendall Gill of “Bulls Postgame Live” said White was playing like a “All-Star” after the outburst.
Coby's 47 three-pointers are the most in a 10-game stretch in franchise history 🔥 (via @bball_ref) pic.twitter.com/paK1cewsBL
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 9, 2023
“We saw this happen over the last couple of years, his progression as an elite type of player,” Gill stated on December 8th, according to NBC Sports Chicago. “That’s how he’s playing right now.” And, if our record had been better, he’d be getting All-Star consideration right now.”
The Bulls must hope Williams follows in the footsteps of fellow “Carolina Boy” White. White signed a three-year, $33 million contract extension this offseason.
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