Bulls coach Billy Donovan talks with his players daily.
Monday, however, was different. His discussion with young forward Matas Buzelis wasn’t just a talk; it was ‘‘the talk.’’
Buzelis strolled into the Advocate Center around 8 p.m., looking to get some extra work in, and Donovan was there in an effort to figure out a way to stop the Bulls’ losing streak.
A talk was inevitable.
Donovan’s basic message to Buzelis was to stay aggressive with his shot, especially from three-point range. He also told him mid-range shots aren’t off-limits to him, like many believe; it’s the bad mid-range shots he has to eliminate.
Somewhere between high school and the G League, Buzelis developed a bad habit of fading back and shooting his mid-range shots off one leg. One guy in the history of the NBA was lethal at that, but Buzelis is no Dirk Nowitzki. Maybe someday he will be, but he’s nowhere near that yet.
Donovan wants Buzelis to use his ballhandling skills to attack the rim or to thrust an opposing defender back. He then will be able to go to the mid-range shot after creating that space.
In his first game after the talk — a blowout loss Tuesday to the Hornets — Buzelis finished with a career-high 32 points on 13-for-19 shooting. He was 6-for-11 from three-point range but also took two mid-range shots and went 1-for-2.
Donovan approved of both of them.
‘‘He got into the paint area and made some shots, got to the basket and made some drives,’’ Donovan said. ‘‘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.’’
Buzelis acknowledged the talk with Donovan but didn’t feel the need to detail it. His performance against the Hornets was his statement.
Buzelis’ seven rebounds and two assists were also nice. On the Bulls’ sinking ship, he still can be a player who stands out.
Still, Buzelis isn’t in the mindset to focus on that. A 10-game losing streak will do that to a player.
‘‘I’m going to be what the team needs me to be,’’ he 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 [Pistons point guard] Cade Cunningham the other day [in a blowout victory against the Bulls]. He was dime-ing [making pinpoint passes]. That’s what winners do.’’
With 23 games left in the Bulls’ season, Buzelis should be focused on continuing to develop his game and his shot profile and on making winning plays. Unfortunately for him, it will be on a losing team.
‘‘The trades happened,’’ Buzelis said of the Bulls’ 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 [if] you get 10 guys who are on the same page and ready to fight, you can win anything.’’
That’s a nice thought, but it’s not reality right now. That might be a talk for another day.
