Matas Progress Tracker

[dougthonus]

I fear you are right and I am wrong. While factoring in the schedule, I failed to factor in Billy Donovan managing to get the least possible out of each of his players. Coby, and eventually Pwill, back in the starting lineup can lead us directly to that 33 win total you predicted.

I am still holding out for .500 though.

Looked that way last year, and I still owe you a pizza for 40

[kodo]

Read on Twitter

Billy played Buz big 4th quarter mins. Awesome ti hear why he is playing him.

Yep I'll take a break from bashing Billy and this was a great decision to play him 24m.
I'd rather lose with Matas than win with Torrey Craig.

[sco]

Read on Twitter

Billy played Buz big 4th quarter mins. Awesome ti hear why he is playing him.

Yep I'll take a break from bashing Billy and this was a great decision to play him 24m.
I'd rather lose with Matas than win with Torrey Craig.

The good thing is that it is the truth. I do like that Matas hustles on defense and goes for RB's. His shot blocking/contesting skills have surprised me...another reason I don't want him bulking up too much. I love his lateral quickness.

[Stratmaster]

I fear you are right and I am wrong. While factoring in the schedule, I failed to factor in Billy Donovan managing to get the least possible out of each of his players. Coby, and eventually Pwill, back in the starting lineup can lead us directly to that 33 win total you predicted.

I am still holding out for .500 though.

Looked that way last year, and I still owe you a pizza for 40

I'm working on the upgrade to deep dish.

[Chi town]

Read on Twitter

Billy played Buz big 4th quarter mins. Awesome ti hear why he is playing him.

Yep I'll take a break from bashing Billy and this was a great decision to play him 24m.
I'd rather lose with Matas than win with Torrey Craig.

The good thing is that it is the truth. I do like that Matas hustles on defense and goes for RB's. His shot blocking/contesting skills have surprised me...another reason I don't want him bulking up too much. I love his lateral quickness.

Now I want to see Pat back and him playing stints with Buz.

Those two having chemistry and complimenting each other on D mean a lot to our future if they work.

[pipfan]

I want to see Ayo/Lavine/Matas/PWill/Vuc start 10 games and see what happens
Coby/Giddy/Smith as main bench
Ball/Phillips/Terry play as needed

[DASMACKDOWN]

You almost wish that Pat comes back asap just so we all know what Billy actually does with the rotations.

Cause think about it. We are now at the stage to where, Ayo is the 6th starter. He plays more minutes than Pat and Giddey.

And now Lonzo is near going off his minute restriction. I don't think he is going to be playing 30 mins a night but 20 or more will be consistent.

If you have

Vooch
Zach
Coby
Ayo
PWill
Giddey
Lonzo

You now have a top 7 that will play in just about any scenario imaginable.

I feel like Jalen Smith and Matas are definitely playing. But it might spell the end of Julius and DT. At least until someone is traded.

Even with everyone healthy, Matas should still be getting 15mins at least. Whether he is playing good or bad.

[HomoSapien]

You almost wish that Pat comes back asap just so we all know what Billy actually does with the rotations.

Cause think about it. We are now at the stage to where, Ayo is the 6th starter. He plays more minutes than Pat and Giddey.

And now Lonzo is near going off his minute restriction. I don't think he is going to be playing 30 mins a night but 20 or more will be consistent.

If you have

Vooch
Zach
Coby
Ayo
PWill
Giddey
Lonzo

You now have a top 7 that will play in just about any scenario imaginable.

I feel like Jalen Smith and Matas are definitely playing. But it might spell the end of Julius and DT. At least until someone is traded.

Even with everyone healthy, Matas should still be getting 15mins at least. Whether he is playing good or bad.

I like Philips but I think he's been disappointing this season. He's blocking fewer shots and his jumper hasn't progressed. I was expecting more from him. Currently, his play doesn't justify his minutes. I'd rather give the extra burn to Matas.

I hope Pat comes back soon and is healthy. Ideally, it's a chance to evaluate him and for him to establish himself as part of this young group. At the very least, it keeps his trade value alive.

[kodo]

Phillips doesn't have much upside from what I've seen, he's a PF in the worst ways in that he can't do anything off a dribble.
Considering Phillips only shoots wide open corner 3s or at the rim, he's terribly inefficient (52% TS).

A couple of JP plays near the rim:
https://thehighlow.io/video/ids?ids=257xT2
https://thehighlow.io/video/ids?ids=25iWdS

He really doesn't convert well unless it's a dunk. I love the athleticism and I think he has potential as a roleplayer ala Javonte.
Not going to complain for a 2nd round salary, but we don't have to carve out minutes for him.

[Dan Z]

Phillips doesn't have much upside from what I've seen, he's a PF in the worst ways in that he can't do anything off a dribble.
Considering Phillips only shoots wide open corner 3s or at the rim, he's terribly inefficient (52% TS).

A couple of JP plays near the rim:
https://thehighlow.io/video/ids?ids=257xT2
https://thehighlow.io/video/ids?ids=25iWdS

He really doesn't convert well unless it's a dunk. I love the athleticism and I think he has potential as a roleplayer ala Javonte.
Not going to complain for a 2nd round salary, but we don't have to carve out minutes for him.

I know 2nd round picks aren't a big deal, but I never understood why they went after Phillips. If he ends up being a Javonte Green type of player couldn't they have just kept Green and the picks?

[meekrab]

Read on Twitter

Billy played Buz big 4th quarter mins. Awesome ti hear why he is playing him.

Yep I'll take a break from bashing Billy and this was a great decision to play him 24m.
I'd rather lose with Matas than win with Torrey Craig.

Fortunately for us, I'm pretty sure "win with Torrey Craig" isn't actually an option.

[Dez]

I want to see Ayo/Lavine/Matas/PWill/Vuc start 10 games and see what happens
Coby/Giddy/Smith as main bench
Ball/Phillips/Terry play as needed

Matas isn't ready to be a starter.

[MGB8]

Phillips doesn't have much upside from what I've seen, he's a PF in the worst ways in that he can't do anything off a dribble.
Considering Phillips only shoots wide open corner 3s or at the rim, he's terribly inefficient (52% TS).

A couple of JP plays near the rim:
https://thehighlow.io/video/ids?ids=257xT2
https://thehighlow.io/video/ids?ids=25iWdS

He really doesn't convert well unless it's a dunk. I love the athleticism and I think he has potential as a roleplayer ala Javonte.
Not going to complain for a 2nd round salary, but we don't have to carve out minutes for him.

Not accurate. He shoots 57% from 2, and a lot of that is contested. 57% isn’t great, but it is a lot better than Pat’ pathetic 36% from the same role, Matas’ 44%, and Giddey and Coby’s 51%. The linked video here shows lots of different non-dunk finishes…

Watch on YouTube

The issue with Phillips is that his handle hasn’t progressed and his shot from 3 appears to have regressed a bit. He started hot, crashed in November to 29%, been a little bit better so far… Not super encouraging. At the same time, he literally just turned 21 and is in his 2nd season.

[Stratmaster]

I want to see Ayo/Lavine/Matas/PWill/Vuc start 10 games and see what happens
Coby/Giddy/Smith as main bench
Ball/Phillips/Terry play as needed

Matas isn't ready to be a starter.

Nether is Pwill. Matas is more ready than Williams ever has been.

[sco]

I want to see Ayo/Lavine/Matas/PWill/Vuc start 10 games and see what happens
Coby/Giddy/Smith as main bench
Ball/Phillips/Terry play as needed

Matas isn't ready to be a starter.

Nether is Pwill. Matas is more ready than Williams ever has been.

I want to see these two play next to each other after the deadline.

I think a line-up featuring Ayo, Matas, Pat and Smith could be our most interesting.

[Dez]

I want to see Ayo/Lavine/Matas/PWill/Vuc start 10 games and see what happens
Coby/Giddy/Smith as main bench
Ball/Phillips/Terry play as needed

Matas isn't ready to be a starter.

Nether is Pwill. Matas is more ready than Williams ever has been.

Yes everyone gets it, you hate Patrick Williams and love Zach LaVine.

We don't have a better defender to start at the 4 so Williams has to start.

Matas isn't strong enough defensively yet, he gets weak side blocks which are great but that's not enough.

[Chi town]

We shall soon see what Pat and Buz look like together! https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/2024/12/10/patrick-williams-practice/

Although it will probably take Pat 20 games to “find his rhythm” in his words.

[Stratmaster]

Matas isn't ready to be a starter.

Nether is Pwill. Matas is more ready than Williams ever has been.

Yes everyone gets it, you hate Patrick Williams and love Zach LaVine.

We don't have a better defender to start at the 4 so Williams has to start.

Matas isn't strong enough defensively yet, he gets weak side blocks which are great but that's not enough.

Don't need to be an ass. Do you think PWill, after 5 seasons, looks as ready to make an impact on the court as Matas? If so, you might try stating your position. That's what a message board is for.

What does Lavine have to do with this discussion? I mean unless you are acknowledging that he continues to prove me correct?

Williams is an adequate defender. Nothing more. Nothing less.

[Stratmaster]

We shall soon see what Pat and Buz look like together! https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/2024/12/10/patrick-williams-practice/

Although it will probably take Pat 20 games to “find his rhythm” in his words.

The return of Coby and Pat will work well for the tank brigade. Ugghh.

[Dez]

Nether is Pwill. Matas is more ready than Williams ever has been.

Yes everyone gets it, you hate Patrick Williams and love Zach LaVine.

We don't have a better defender to start at the 4 so Williams has to start.

Matas isn't strong enough defensively yet, he gets weak side blocks which are great but that's not enough.

Don't need to be an ass. Do you think PWill, after 5 seasons, looks as ready to make an impact on the court as Matas? If so, you might try stating your position. That's what a message board is for.

What does Lavine have to do with this discussion? I mean unless you are acknowledging that he continues to prove me correct?

Williams is an adequate defender. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Defensively he's leagues ahead (as he should be) of Matas and Williams is better than an adequate defender, that’s downplaying him.

Buzelis is currently playing limited minutes, it remains to be seen if his impact carries over in more minutes given he won't be able to go balls to the wall the entire time.