Matas Progress Tracker

[Chi town]

Matas should stay there until after the all star break. Let him get 25 games where he can get loose, and be the guy in focus. Giving Buzelis ten minutes on the main roster, standing in the corner won't be his development much good. The Bulls should have played Terry and Phillips more at the G League level their rookie season. Terry should've played more G League ball his first two seasons.

No. God no.

I’m hoping he’s starting at PF next to Pat at SF after the deadline.

[Muzbar]

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[Rose2Boozer]

Matas should stay there until after the all star break. Let him get 25 games where he can get loose, and be the guy in focus. Giving Buzelis ten minutes on the main roster, standing in the corner won't be his development much good. The Bulls should have played Terry and Phillips more at the G League level their rookie season. Terry should've played more G League ball his first two seasons.

No. God no.

I’m hoping he’s starting at PF next to Pat at SF after the deadline.

I'm hoping the Bulls keep their 2025 first round pick, and draft someone who's more talented than Buzelis and Williams.

[Almost Retired]

No. God no.

I’m hoping he’s starting at PF next to Pat at SF after the deadline.

I'm hoping the Bulls keep their 2025 first round pick, and draft someone who's more talented than Buzelis and Williams.

We'll keep our pick but as cursed as the Bulls are they'll end up picking between 8 and 13, the perfect spot to Draft a tweener who can play defense but can't shoot or a scorer who can't cover a lamp post. I harbor absolutely zero optimism that the franchise can be turned around anytime in the remainder of this decade. Embrace mediocrity, it will be with us for a long time to come.

[Muzbar]

I’m hoping he’s starting at PF next to Pat at SF after the deadline.

I'm hoping the Bulls keep their 2025 first round pick, and draft someone who's more talented than Buzelis and Williams.

We'll keep our pick but as cursed as the Bulls are they'll end up picking between 8 and 13, the perfect spot to Draft a tweener who can play defense but can't shoot or a scorer who can't cover a lamp post. I harbor absolutely zero optimism that the franchise can be turned around anytime in the remainder of this decade. Embrace mediocrity, it will be with us for a long time to come.

If the Bulls pick outside the top 10 then the pick goes to San Antonio.

I'm going to continue to fight against mediocrity, their hand will have to be forced eventually. Some may love just squeaking into the play-in on mid level talent, but I want a better future, or at least a better chance.

[Muzbar]

Also, just quietly, Matas is currently shooting 38% from 3, albeit on low volume, but still.

He's pretty terrible at the rim though (so far).

[GoBlue72391]

Also, just quietly, Matas is currently shooting 38% from 3, albeit on low volume, but still.

He's pretty terrible at the rim though (so far).

According to BBRef he has a grand total of 8 attempts at the rim so far, of which he's made 3. From 3 to 16 feet, he's made 2 out of 11.

[Muzbar]

Also, just quietly, Matas is currently shooting 38% from 3, albeit on low volume, but still.

He's pretty terrible at the rim though (so far).

According to BBRef he has a grand total of 8 attempts at the rim so far, of which he's made 3. From 3 to 16 feet, he's made 2 out of 11.

I went by this website: https://3stepsbasket.com/player/matas-arvidas-buzelis/shooting?season=nba25

I must have misunderstood it.

[sco]

Also, just quietly, Matas is currently shooting 38% from 3, albeit on low volume, but still.

He's pretty terrible at the rim though (so far).

According to BBRef he has a grand total of 8 attempts at the rim so far, of which he's made 3. From 3 to 16 feet, he's made 2 out of 11.

I went by this website: https://3stepsbasket.com/player/matas-arvidas-buzelis/shooting?season=nba25

I must have misunderstood it.

Other than Matas is "capable" of making 3's, drawing any statistical meaning from a rookie playing 10 min per game is folly. What's clear is that Billy is making him not take minutes for granted, and IMO he is doing it for a reason (likely lax practice habits). Still, I'm seeing improvement from Matas even in those limited minutes. To me, it's not about this season with him, it's getting the most out of him in 2-3 years.

[SalmonsSuperfan]

I'm hoping the Bulls keep their 2025 first round pick, and draft someone who's more talented than Buzelis and Williams.

We'll keep our pick but as cursed as the Bulls are they'll end up picking between 8 and 13, the perfect spot to Draft a tweener who can play defense but can't shoot or a scorer who can't cover a lamp post. I harbor absolutely zero optimism that the franchise can be turned around anytime in the remainder of this decade. Embrace mediocrity, it will be with us for a long time to come.

If the Bulls pick outside the top 10 then the pick goes to San Antonio.

I'm going to continue to fight against mediocrity, their hand will have to be forced eventually. Some may love just squeaking into the play-in on mid level talent, but I want a better future, or at least a better chance.

the thing is AK has never actually made a good draft pick since taking over. Ayo was a fine pick who I'm certain he had no hand in scouting. maybe trading all the draft picks for bad players is the right strategy with this guy at the helm.

[Muzbar]

We'll keep our pick but as cursed as the Bulls are they'll end up picking between 8 and 13, the perfect spot to Draft a tweener who can play defense but can't shoot or a scorer who can't cover a lamp post. I harbor absolutely zero optimism that the franchise can be turned around anytime in the remainder of this decade. Embrace mediocrity, it will be with us for a long time to come.

If the Bulls pick outside the top 10 then the pick goes to San Antonio.

I'm going to continue to fight against mediocrity, their hand will have to be forced eventually. Some may love just squeaking into the play-in on mid level talent, but I want a better future, or at least a better chance.

the thing is AK has never actually made a good draft pick since taking over. Ayo was a fine pick who I'm certain he had no hand in scouting. maybe trading all the draft picks for bad players is the right strategy with this guy at the helm.

This may sound like I'm defending AK (I'm 100% not), but he hasn't had any lottery picks in a strong draft, PWills draft had a pretty clear top 3 at the time and then it was basically a crap shoot after that. The next lottery pick they had was Matas at 11 in what was considered one of the worst drafts in history.

Surely, with a top 1-4 pick in a strong draft he couldn't miss, I mean obviously there's still a chance to draft a Wiseman or Bennett but surely there a high chance to make the right pick based on hype alone.

I don't know, I just think it's possible to stumble into a good player.

[sco]

With Williams out for at least a few games, I want Billy to give Matas big minutes! He doesn't need to start (I'd give Smith the start), but he should be getting 22+MPG. F Terry and Phillips getting those minutes!

[DASMACKDOWN]

For the longest, I have been giving the FO the benefit of the doubt. But I am quickly losing faith in these guys. I do not feel like AKME and Billy are on the same page on the types of players Billy will actually use.

Secondly, the Bulls have never gone 10 toes down on an actual direction. Nearly everyone around the Bulls in secret keeps talking about this draft and a desire to keep our pick. I totally understand that they can't outwardly declare they are tanking. But what happens on the floor actually tells people what the real situation is.

And at this point 15 games in, I have no clue.

What gets me mad with the Matas situation is like I pointed out, he is playing less minutes than 17 other 1st rounders. Out of the whole draft its 24. 24 freaking rookies have played more than Matas. Thats on a 6-10 team.

So you have to ask, who on the team is preventing Matas from playing good consistent minutes? Patrick Williams? Who is completely up and down as a player?

But what worried me the most was the Torrey Craig was blasted right back into the starting lineup when Pat goes out, essentially keeping Phillips and Matas in the same minutes situation. That is Assinign

I have no faith in these guys. Cooper Flagg, Bailey, Boozer wouldn't get any minutes on this team with Billy Donovan at the helm.

[GoBlue72391]

If Pat going down with an injury isn't enough to get Matas some real minutes, nothing is. I like Torrey Craig and he played well against the Bucks in his first real minutes of the season, but those minutes should be going to Matas since it's not like we're doing anything this season.

[patryk7754]

If Pat going down with an injury isn't enough to get Matas some real minutes, nothing is. I like Torrey Craig and he played well against the Bucks in his first real minutes of the season, but those minutes should be going to Matas since it's not like we're doing anything this season.

Everyone realizes that except for the people in charge, and that's the problem.

[sco]

If Pat going down with an injury isn't enough to get Matas some real minutes, nothing is. I like Torrey Craig and he played well against the Bucks in his first real minutes of the season, but those minutes should be going to Matas since it's not like we're doing anything this season.

Everyone realizes that except for the people in charge, and that's the problem.

To be fair, we have the luxury of not having bosses who would give us a hard time if we tried to have the team tank. AK has gone out of his way to say the opposite, so this (lack of a) move can't be that surprising to anyone who has listened to him. What sucks is when fans and GM's have differing objectives. We all know that a couple years of tanking would be the org's best route to a turn-around, but it's unlikely that AK survives that, and therein lies the rub.

I think the more interesting question is what is Billy seeing (or not seeing) in Matas that has Billy keeping his minutes so low? Because, 100% it is something that Billy thinks is important.

[DuckIII]

If Pat going down with an injury isn't enough to get Matas some real minutes, nothing is. I like Torrey Craig and he played well against the Bucks in his first real minutes of the season, but those minutes should be going to Matas since it's not like we're doing anything this season.

Everyone realizes that except for the people in charge, and that's the problem.

To be fair, we have the luxury of not having bosses who would give us a hard time if we tried to have the team tank. AK has gone out of his way to say the opposite, so this (lack of a) move can't be that surprising to anyone who has listened to him.

Hold up. Either I missed something big from AK, which is totally possible, or you have this backwards. AK has specifically said more than once over the last two years that he has a green light from management to blow it up and rebuild and he has chosen to not do that. Maybe he is providing them cover as part of keeping his job, but that is the only way I have heard him say it.

And I believe him. Because not rebuilding is how he sold himself to get the job in the first place.

[kodo]

If Pat going down with an injury isn't enough to get Matas some real minutes, nothing is. I like Torrey Craig and he played well against the Bucks in his first real minutes of the season, but those minutes should be going to Matas since it's not like we're doing anything this season.

Everyone realizes that except for the people in charge, and that's the problem.

To be fair, we have the luxury of not having bosses who would give us a hard time if we tried to have the team tank. AK has gone out of his way to say the opposite, so this (lack of a) move can't be that surprising to anyone who has listened to him. What sucks is when fans and GM's have differing objectives. We all know that a couple years of tanking would be the org's best route to a turn-around, but it's unlikely that AK survives that, and therein lies the rub.

I think the more interesting question is what is Billy seeing (or not seeing) in Matas that has Billy keeping his minutes so low? Because, 100% it is something that Billy thinks is important.

Usually coaches hate rookies because of defense, but Matas has been an excellent defender both in Chicago and on the Ignite.

Team defense: it's been the best with Matas on the floor. 113 with him on, vs PWill 118 Phillips 117
Rim Protection: Matas 2.0 blocks per 36, PWill 0.7 Phillips 0.3
Steals: Matas 1.7 steals per 36, PWill 1.2 Phillips 2.1
Defended FG%: Matas 45.7%, PWill 49.6% Phillips 47.1%
Rebounding: Matas 8.4 per 36, PWill 6.2 Phillips 5.4

[samwana]

If Pat going down with an injury isn't enough to get Matas some real minutes, nothing is. I like Torrey Craig and he played well against the Bucks in his first real minutes of the season, but those minutes should be going to Matas since it's not like we're doing anything this season.

Everyone realizes that except for the people in charge, and that's the problem.

To be fair, we have the luxury of not having bosses who would give us a hard time if we tried to have the team tank. AK has gone out of his way to say the opposite, so this (lack of a) move can't be that surprising to anyone who has listened to him. What sucks is when fans and GM's have differing objectives. We all know that a couple years of tanking would be the org's best route to a turn-around, but it's unlikely that AK survives that, and therein lies the rub.

I think the more interesting question is what is Billy seeing (or not seeing) in Matas that has Billy keeping his minutes so low? Because, 100% it is something that Billy thinks is important.

Billy just wants to keep his job and so do AKME.

I can't wait to see Billy go because he is bad at developing players and worse in ingame coaching. TBH I'd rather have Boylen, at least we agreed that was a bad coach.

Why you don't play your prized rookie in a season where it is better to lose than to win (and at least Matas could win a lot of experience) wtf are they doing?

[Chi town]

For the longest, I have been giving the FO the benefit of the doubt. But I am quickly losing faith in these guys. I do not feel like AKME and Billy are on the same page on the types of players Billy will actually use.

Secondly, the Bulls have never gone 10 toes down on an actual direction. Nearly everyone around the Bulls in secret keeps talking about this draft and a desire to keep our pick. I totally understand that they can't outwardly declare they are tanking. But what happens on the floor actually tells people what the real situation is.

And at this point 15 games in, I have no clue.

What gets me mad with the Matas situation is like I pointed out, he is playing less minutes than 17 other 1st rounders. Out of the whole draft its 24. 24 freaking rookies have played more than Matas. Thats on a 6-10 team.

So you have to ask, who on the team is preventing Matas from playing good consistent minutes? Patrick Williams? Who is completely up and down as a player?

But what worried me the most was the Torrey Craig was blasted right back into the starting lineup when Pat goes out, essentially keeping Phillips and Matas in the same minutes situation. That is Assinign

I have no faith in these guys. Cooper Flagg, Bailey, Boozer wouldn't get any minutes on this team with Billy Donovan at the helm.

Not playing Craig for JP and DT all season show they want to lose.

Buz in theory and some game tape, provides our greatest need as a team: front court athleticism, size, and rim protection. If Buz got 20mpg I think he would honestly gain confidence and help us win.

I think we are clearly in the showcase Zach and Vuc while giving tough love to Buz so DT and JP can help us lose… phase. Which we shouldn’t be. Biz should be getting every min over those two.

Also think Buz is a new school competitor. He has fun and plays loose. Billy is old school and is misreading his loose vibe as rookie immaturity and unprofessional.

Play the kid. Don’t think we do until a trade happens. Only way you redeem this is if he’s featured later in the season and given the ball to stretch his game. Much like the Jazz are doing with Lauri right now.