Billy Donovan talks with his players daily.
Monday, however, was different for the Bulls coach and second-year forward Matas Buzelis.
It wasn’t just talk, it was “the talk.”
Buzelis strolled into the Advocate Center around 8 p.m. looking to get some extra work in, and of course Donovan was in his foxhole trying to figure out a way to stop the losing.
The heart-to-heart was inevitable.
Donovan’s basic message to Buzelis was to reiterate staying aggressive with his shot, especially from beyond three-point range, but also reaffirming that the mid-range is not off limits for Buzelis like many believe, it’s the bad mid-range that Donovan wants out of Buzelis’ game.
Somewhere between high school and playing for G League Ignite, Buzelis developed a bad habit of getting to his mid-range and then fading back off one leg on his shot. One guy in the history of the league was lethal at that and his first was Dirk.
Matas Buzelis is no Dirk Nowitzki. Maybe someday, but nowhere near that yet.
Instead, Donovan wants Buzelis using his ball-handling to either attack the rim or thrust an opposing defender back, going to the mid-range if he can create that space.
The sample size was just one game – a blowout loss to Charlotte on Wednesday – but Buzelis finished with a career-high 32 points on 13-of-19 shooting. He was 6-of-11 from three, but also took two mid-range shots, going 1-for-2.
Both were Donovan approved.
“He got into the paint area and made some shots, got to the basket and made some drives,” Donovan said of Buzelis’ night. “That’s what he’s got to do, play more off the dribble to score. I thought he was very efficient and decisive.
“If you look at the really good offensive players and scorers in this league, they are hard to guard because you really are not sure what they are going to do. Go by you, step back, shoot a three, shot fake. It’s hard to handle those high-level offensive players. I’ve talked to Matas. He has to be shiftier and craftier with the basketball.”
Baby steps.
Buzelis acknowledged the talk with Donovan but didn’t feel the need to detail it. His game against the Hornets was his statement.
What was also nice was the seven rebounds and even two assists from Buzelis. On a sinking ship that is the 2025-26 season, Buzelis can still be that defiant waving flag in all its glory hanging off the stern.
He’s just not in the mindset to focus on that. A 10-game losing streak will do that to a man.
“I’m going to be what the team needs me to be,” Buzelis said. “If that’s scoring, that’s what it’s going to be. I try to figure out during the game what the team needs and (Tuesday) it was scoring. But look at (Detroit point guard) Cade Cunningham the other day (in a blowout win over the Bulls). He was dimeing (making pinpoint passes). That’s what winners do.”
That, however, is not where the Bulls currently reside. With 23 games left, Buzelis should be focused on continuing his development, shot profile, and making winning plays, but for a losing product. Not an easy sell.
“The trades happened,” Buzelis said of the roster turnover at the trade deadline. “When you trade half the team and bring in new guys, it’s tough. But it’s no excuse. When we control the things we can control, we are going to be a great team. Billy always says you get 10 guys who are on the same page and ready to fight and you can win anything.”
A nice thought but just not reality. That might be a heart-to-heart for another day.