Most fans see a young player struggling and assume the system is broken. Matas Buzelis sees a pattern he has lived before. The third-year forward admits his slow start with the Chicago Bulls is not new. It matches the tough beginnings of his rookie and second years.
The stats against Philadelphia on Monday night looked ugly. Buzelis scored just four points while committing five turnovers. He played 23 minutes and matched his point total with four personal fouls. This was his lowest output of the season. Yet he refuses to panic about the numbers.
“If you guys can recall, every one of my beginning of my seasons, first and second, they were tough,” Buzelis told Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic, according to Yahoo Sports. He knows the early days bring challenges. This year feels harder because new guys are coming in. The roster is different, but the struggle is familiar.
Splitter Sees the Problem
Head coach Tiago Splitter did not sugarcoat the issues after the loss. According to Yahoo Sports, Splitter’s message to Buzelis was straightforward. Matas Buzelis must avoid playing in a crowd, according to the coach. The numbers against the 76ers illustrated the problem clearly. Buzelis had more turnovers than points in that game.
Buzelis is averaging 13.0 points and 4.3 rebounds over his first seven games. He shoots 40 percent from the field and 29 percent from deep. The lack of offensive production has raised concerns among the fanbase. Some want to cast stones while the team sits at 1-6. The locker room, however, is not selling his stock.
Point guard Josh Giddey explained the difficulty of the current offense. “In the halfcourt, and I’ve spoken to it before, we have multiple guys that can be offensive weapons for us, so trying to balance that attack,” Giddey said. Last year the team did not have players like Norman Powell or Caleb Wilson who can score at will. Everyone is still learning how to play together.
The Process Is Real
Buzelis insists he will figure it out. He points to the hard work he put in over the summer. He believes the improvements will eventually show up on the court. “It’s all a process. Figuring out when to attack, when to shoot, it’s all different for me, but I’ll get it. It’s a matter of time,” he told the Chicago Sun-Times.
The young forward knows he cannot force plays when defense closes in. He must learn when to move the ball and create space. His confidence has not disappeared despite the rough start. He remembers his rookie season when he averaged only 2.9 points in the first seven games. His first seven starts last year saw him average 14.9 points per game.
The Bulls need him to make the right decisions under pressure. If he fails to reduce turnovers, his potential has limits. Splitter’s criticism is a key part of his growth. Buzelis offered words of encouragement to the team. He said, “As I keep saying, it’s a process. I promise you I’ll figure it out.” That promise hangs over the next game.
