Matas Progress Tracker

[Chi town]

Billy with good things to say about Buz…

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[kodo]

Great to hear Billy is going to play him.

I wish it didn't take a Patrick Williams injury and 17 games to realize the kid is talented, but at least Billy is on board now.

[Jello Biafra]

I get where Billy's at on the whole not blocking out thing. I saw that multiple times last night. A couple on the defensive end when he just stood there and didn't try to get his body on a man leading to 2 easy put backs from Hunter who was diving to the rim. The worst though was on a Coby fast break three where Matas was under the rim then while the ball was in the air he inexplicably walked away and turned his back to the basket and the ball giving the Hawks the board. But other than that and the turnovers there was a lot to like.

[sco]

Matas had the best and worst halves against MEM. That's ok. That's very rookie. He doesn't seem to have the stamina to give a complete game yet. I'm less worried about his strength than his endurance. Really hope they let him stay quick and light, and play him at the 3 next season. His quickness and quick hops seem like better assets than being able to body-up bigs in the paint.

[Infinity2152]

In Billy's opinion, Matas is just not better than the guys playing in front of him. They're all far more experienced and Billy sees these guys match up regularly in practice. In reality, most of the Bulls are better than Matas is at this point. Don't know what the rush is to get him in so fast right now is anyway. He does not have an NBA body yet and is still developing. If he was the 20th pick we would be content letting him develop and get stronger. usually in here, everybody is saying guys should earn their time, not be gifted minutes. One of the biggest complaints about Pat Will. An extra 5 minutes a game is not going to add up to a ton more actual experience, he plays against NBA players every practice. Would expect to see his minutes increase further into the season, but personally think there's a much higher injury risk if he plays more minutes now than once he gets into NBA shape. We have the rare opportunity to actually build and develop a guy, rather than throwing him straight into the fire against Giannis. Pat started damn near every game, help his development much? Actual game time is the smallest part of their development. Way more likely he gets better with an extra couple hours in the gym each week, working on skills, than getting an extra 5-10 minutes a game, at least right now.

Player development isn't a one size fits all thing, it varies from player to player. Gifting a starting spot and 25 MPG to Pat right off the bat didn't help him meet expectations, but it definitely helped his development more than not playing at all like Matas basically is doing right now.

There's a big difference between gifting a rookie a starting spot/25 MPG compared to 12-15 developmental minutes off the bench and increasing that when other players get hurt like Pat and Craig are.

When you're a non-playoff caliber team, you don't draft a project player and then not play him. That's idiotic. It's not like he's playing some super complicated position like QB and needs to sit and learn for two years behind a vet.

Practice and G league can only do so much. Players develop by playing.

I agree with all of this. Except that the Bulls can be a playoff team this season if they want to. That still doesn't mean they can't find Matas minutes.

Cue Patrick Williams injury and Matas playing 20 minutes, like I said in another post, lol. We have so many injuries every year, it would be weird if a starter or two doesn't go down. We've had like 5 players injured already.

Another big difference is there was literally NO ONE in front of Pat Will at PF. People keep talking about gifted minutes, he was drafted to a vet lineup, and wasn't needed to score in the beginning, or do much but play defense. Who are the PF's on our team who should have been given big minutes, Alize Johnson, Tyler Cook, DJJ, 37 year old Ilyasova? Pat shot 39% from three and was regarded as a good defender rookie year, by the way, better than all those guys at both.

Imo, Giddey should be playing point forward from the power forward position. Minimizes a lot of his defensive weaknesses, he' guarding slower players. The same height or taller than most PF's. Rebounds like a PF. Speed is more equal for position. It's much easier to get heavier or stronger than faster. Phillips is probably better than Matas right now, he's a prospect too and plays some PF. But I think the real thing is developing Matas body, not his game, in year 1. Terry, Sanogo, Jalen Smith, THT, Liddell, Giddey, White, Ayo, Steward, Phillips, are all 24 or under, Matas is by far the youngest with the most time to develop. Draft status means nothing after the draft. No guarantees he's better than Phillips, for instance.

How long have we been watching Donovan refuse to play tall players? Andre Drummond? 6'4, 6'5 guys at PF? If Matas was 3 inches shorter, he probably plays more right now, lol. He's like a freshman on a college team, most will barely play unless they're outstanding, they build them up. Most of the guys in the league are way older than Matas.

[Chi town]

More praise from Billy and Coby about Buz’s work ethic.

He’s active and competes and will continue to grow and get better,” said Donovan, who played Buzelis first off the bench with Patrick Williams out with a foot injury, Lonzo Ball still out with his wrist problem and Julian Phillips ill. Though Donovan counsels that at 6-10 for a small team Buzelis needs to concentrate more on rebounding to stay high in the rotation. With another block, Buzelis is starting to look like he has two-way player potential.

“A lot of guys with back to backs take that morning off,” White noted. “He came in to watch film with the coaches. That’s big for me to see him doing that. He’s super talented and he was prepared.”

[sco]

More praise from Billy and Coby about Buz’s work ethic.

He’s active and competes and will continue to grow and get better,” said Donovan, who played Buzelis first off the bench with Patrick Williams out with a foot injury, Lonzo Ball still out with his wrist problem and Julian Phillips ill. Though Donovan counsels that at 6-10 for a small team Buzelis needs to concentrate more on rebounding to stay high in the rotation. With another block, Buzelis is starting to look like he has two-way player potential.

“A lot of guys with back to backs take that morning off,” White noted. “He came in to watch film with the coaches. That’s big for me to see him doing that. He’s super talented and he was prepared.”

Good to see! I was afraid Billy was punishing him with those super low minute games for poor work ethic.

[Ice Man]

The kid has upside but he's super raw. Even with the rosiest of rookie-colored glasses, you can't say that he's yet a good NBA player or whole helps his team to win games. In that context -- and in the context that while many fans might want the Bulls to have the worst record in the league, for the Flagg Sag, but Bulls' management does not -- his minutes have been fine.

[Stratmaster]

Player development isn't a one size fits all thing, it varies from player to player. Gifting a starting spot and 25 MPG to Pat right off the bat didn't help him meet expectations, but it definitely helped his development more than not playing at all like Matas basically is doing right now.

There's a big difference between gifting a rookie a starting spot/25 MPG compared to 12-15 developmental minutes off the bench and increasing that when other players get hurt like Pat and Craig are.

When you're a non-playoff caliber team, you don't draft a project player and then not play him. That's idiotic. It's not like he's playing some super complicated position like QB and needs to sit and learn for two years behind a vet.

Practice and G league can only do so much. Players develop by playing.

I agree with all of this. Except that the Bulls can be a playoff team this season if they want to. That still doesn't mean they can't find Matas minutes.

Cue Patrick Williams injury and Matas playing 20 minutes, like I said in another post, lol. We have so many injuries every year, it would be weird if a starter or two doesn't go down. We've had like 5 players injured already.

Another big difference is there was literally NO ONE in front of Pat Will at PF. People keep talking about gifted minutes, he was drafted to a vet lineup, and wasn't needed to score in the beginning, or do much but play defense. Who are the PF's on our team who should have been given big minutes, Alize Johnson, Tyler Cook, DJJ, 37 year old Ilyasova? Pat shot 39% from three and was regarded as a good defender rookie year, by the way, better than all those guys at both.

Imo, Giddey should be playing point forward from the power forward position. Minimizes a lot of his defensive weaknesses, he' guarding slower players. The same height or taller than most PF's. Rebounds like a PF. Speed is more equal for position. It's much easier to get heavier or stronger than faster. Phillips is probably better than Matas right now, he's a prospect too and plays some PF. But I think the real thing is developing Matas body, not his game, in year 1. Terry, Sanogo, Jalen Smith, THT, Liddell, Giddey, White, Ayo, Steward, Phillips, are all 24 or under, Matas is by far the youngest with the most time to develop. Draft status means nothing after the draft. No guarantees he's better than Phillips, for instance.

How long have we been watching Donovan refuse to play tall players? Andre Drummond? 6'4, 6'5 guys at PF? If Matas was 3 inches shorter, he probably plays more right now, lol. He's like a freshman on a college team, most will barely play unless they're outstanding, they build them up. Most of the guys in the league are way older than Matas.

The damning thing for Pwill is that they were so hell bent on him being the PF that they didn't bother getting another one. Yet all of those bench SF's, and at times Guards, outplayed him at the 4. And ot is happening again.

Like you said. Total failure and blindness from the front office, and the coach.

[Stratmaster]

The kid has upside but he's super raw. Even with the rosiest of rookie-colored glasses, you can't say that he's yet a good NBA player or whole helps his team to win games. In that context -- and in the context that while many fans might want the Bulls to have the worst record in the league, for the Flagg Sag, but Bulls' management does not -- his minutes have been fine.

And yet he already has more floor impact than the guy they have been trying to start for 5 seasons.

[Jcool0]

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[waffle]

I wonder when we'll see his first 20 pt game?

[Ctownbulls]

Great to hear Billy is going to play him.

I wish it didn't take a Patrick Williams injury and 17 games to realize the kid is talented, but at least Billy is on board now.

I don't think it was Patrick Williams or the length of time. It seems like this is a dedicated approach to bring him along slowly and build confidence. They are doing it properly.

[Chi town]

I wonder when we'll see his first 20 pt game?

Probably next game. against the worst defense in the league in the Wiz.

Confidence high. Mins up. Lots of fast break points

[Chi town]

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Any good quotes or insights?

[WindyCityBorn]

Matas had the best and worst halves against MEM. That's ok. That's very rookie. He doesn't seem to have the stamina to give a complete game yet. I'm less worried about his strength than his endurance. Really hope they let him stay quick and light, and play him at the 3 next season. His quickness and quick hops seem like better assets than being able to body-up bigs in the paint.

No he needs to get bigger.

[DASMACKDOWN]

As long as we dont try to turn Matas into a big PF/C let him cook.

The gameplan for Lauri was so awful.

"He's not strong enough" was said early in his career but they also wanted him to play on the block like a PF/C. That was the biggest mistake and Lauri said so himself. Lauri lost alot of his "fluidity" and explosiveness during his time here.

Matas is a 6'10 wing. He plays like it, he dribbles like it, he moves like it. Dont try to turn him into Jalen Smith.

We know the SF/PF spots are interchangeable in todays NBA. Players are just non descript. Jayson Tatum and Brown, Paolo and Franz etc Whether they are playing SF or PF is irrelevent.

Really it all comes down to Billy Donovan who tends to pigeonhole players. That is what I am afraid of.

[Red8911]

As long as we dont try to turn Matas into a big PF/C let him cook.

The gameplan for Lauri was so awful.

"He's not strong enough" was said early in his career but they also wanted him to play on the block like a PF/C. That was the biggest mistake and Lauri said so himself. Lauri lost alot of his "fluidity" and explosiveness during his time here.

Matas is a 6'10 wing. He plays like it, he dribbles like it, he moves like it. Dont try to turn him into Jalen Smith.

We know the SF/PF spots are interchangeable in todays NBA. Players are just non descript. Jayson Tatum and Brown, Paolo and Franz etc Whether they are playing SF or PF is irrelevent.

Really it all comes down to Billy Donovan who tends to pigeonhole players. That is what I am afraid of.

Agreed they bulked up Lauri for no reason at all, it actually hurt his game and made him slower.

Matas too doesn’t need to bulk up, yes add some strength but also got to keep the quickness.

[dougthonus]

Matas too doesn’t need to bulk up, yes add some strength but also got to keep the quickness.

Matas weighs 209. I'd say anywhere from 225-230 is a good target playing weight for him if he adds the right kind of muscle. Bulking up is sort of relative. Kevin Durant is 240, which given his height is probably the equivalent of Matas at 230, and I doubt anyone look at KD and think he's bulky.

[Chi town]

As long as we dont try to turn Matas into a big PF/C let him cook.

The gameplan for Lauri was so awful.

"He's not strong enough" was said early in his career but they also wanted him to play on the block like a PF/C. That was the biggest mistake and Lauri said so himself. Lauri lost alot of his "fluidity" and explosiveness during his time here.

Matas is a 6'10 wing. He plays like it, he dribbles like it, he moves like it. Dont try to turn him into Jalen Smith.

We know the SF/PF spots are interchangeable in todays NBA. Players are just non descript. Jayson Tatum and Brown, Paolo and Franz etc Whether they are playing SF or PF is irrelevent.

Really it all comes down to Billy Donovan who tends to pigeonhole players. That is what I am afraid of.

Franz is probably the most realistic upside comp for Buz. He will need the ball in his hands though.