Bulls still searching for answers to unlock forward Patrick Williams
INDIANAPOLIS — The question isn’t new.
At this point it’s been asked so many times even the wording is all starting to sound the same.
When is it going to click consistently for Bulls forward Patrick Williams?
Definitely not in Wednesday’s 129-113 loss to Indiana in which Williams went 0-for-5 from the field and seemingly got some extra time on the bench in the third quarter.
“Yeah, it did,” Williams admitted when asked if that downtime in the third seemed longer than the usual rest he would get.
He was then asked if he spoke to coach Billy Donovan about it or asked for an explanation.
“Nah, I don’t play the game that way,” Williams said. “Never have I ever asked for extra minutes or touches or anything like that. You play the game and if you’re good enough they’ll get you the ball. That’s kind of how I’ve always played. That’s how I think a team should be run.”
That’s all well and good that Williams isn’t looking to make waves off the court by complaining, but this is now Year 5 for the former No. 4 overall pick, he’s been paid with a new $90 million contract, and it’s time for some consistent return on investment. How about some waves or at least a consistent splash on the court.
“Yeah, he’s got to be more consistent,” Donovan said after the loss.
Not really breaking news when it comes to Williams, as the coaching staff has tried different routines with him, as well as different coaches to focus on him. The one doing a lot of the heavy lifting with Williams these days is director of player development Peter Patton, who one source said they’re hoping he can be the “P-Will Whisperer.”
If felt like Patton was getting somewhere in November, as Williams put together five straight double-digit scoring outputs, even looking more aggressive on the glass and having a nine-assist game mixed in there. A foot injury cost Williams almost a month, however, and now it feels like it’s back to ground zero.
Considering all the struggles the Bulls had with the Pacers, Wednesday would have been a good time for Williams to say, “My turn.” He admitted that after the game.
“For sure,” Williams admitted when asked about that being a possible step-up moment for him. “But to be honest there weren’t many opportunities. We were in the half-court, we didn’t get a chance to play in transition. We were taking the ball out of the net every time or we were fouling.
“In the half-court it’s obviously a little tougher. We have plays and sets that we run where we trust the ball in Coby (White’s) hands, Zach’s hands, Josh (Giddey’s) hands, Vooch’s (Nikola Vucevic) hands, and I think as of now in my career, at least up to this point, a lot of my buckets have come off closeouts, transitions, getting downhill that way. That’s where I am in my career or where they have me at in my career.”
He did point out that he wasn’t saying there was a pecking order as much as it’s about his playing style opening up more opportunities when the Bulls are running with pace. His offense comes from transition and kick-out threes.
Williams said as the game gets into the third and fourth quarters the pace slows down, and so does the number of opportunities he gets.
An excuse or some truth behind it? The numbers point to the latter, as Williams averaged 5.9 points on 5.1 attempts in the first half of games this season, and 3.7 points on 3.4 attempts in the second half. But is that because the ball isn’t finding him or he’s passing it off?
Either way, it has to again be addressed if the Bulls want Williams to live up to the contract they gave him.
What’s not an option right now? Donovan making him a reserve rather than a starter.
“I’m not going to sit here and say I’m looking at a lineup change, because I’m not,” Donovan said.