Bulls’ Patrick Williams has a rookie habit he and Billy Donovan hope to kick

Patrick Williams’ first NBA season was not without rookie moments. In fact, he won a handful in the Bulls’ victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night.

He went beyond his stat line: 4 points, 6 rebounds, field goal 2 of 7 (0 of 2 of 3). On several occasions, Williams notably bypassed or hesitated to immediately make open shooting attempts, especially from behind the 3-point arc.

“It kind of happened the last game. I thought he had a lot of shots and chances to shoot the ball and I thought he got around them, ”said head coach Billy Donovan. I think from myself and the rest of the team we encourage him to (shoot more). Certainly speaking to him after the game and playing against Charlotte with the zone and the way they were turning and the readings that were there, I think it made him a little indecisive. But there is no doubt that he has to be aggressive. “

Donovan called his responsibility to put the ball in Williams’ hands more often. Williams refused to return the ball.

“As a player you want to be able to correct yourself, ”he said. But like I said, we have some great veterans. We have great guys on this team, and they always tell me to stay aggressive, sure to shoot the ball when I’m open. “

And why not? Although on limited volume (8 shots per game, sixth on team), Williams shoots 46.7% from ground and 47.1% from depth (34 attempts in total) in 15 games. This includes 46.4% on the holds and pull 3s and 47.2% on the 2 pull-ups.

Additionally, when he puts the ball to the ground – decisively – to attack loose fences, he has shown the potential to produce good results:

Notice Zach LaVine’s reaction in the lower right corner of the screen.

“Zach said he believes in me more than I believe in myself, which is sometimes true,” Williams said. “He just told me to keep shooting the ball, to stay confident offensively and defensively, to make plays that the team knows I can make. Like I said, as a player you always want being able to correct you. But it’s always good and it’s always necessary to have guys in the locker room who can correct you when you need to be corrected too. “

Williams has spoken in the past of the length and speed of NBA defenders requiring an emergency as a shooter, and teammates such as Garrett Temple advising him to throw the “rhythmic dribbling” he often takes before the jumpers. . These, as well as, as Donovan noted, the quick reading of evolving defenses, were tweaks.

Williams has also been whistled for three trips and four offensive fouls on records this season. His only turnover of the night in Saturday’s loss to the Lakers came out of bounds as he tried to rush past a late Marc Gasol game.

“The also has another thing he’s working on, as the guys start to steal from him, because he shot the ball pretty well early in the season … When he puts the ball on the ground, he has to eliminate the trip, “Donovan said.” He tends to wiggle his feet a bit, and that’s something we need to work on with him. But he must be decisive to shoot, pass or lead. “

No one is sounding the alarm bells here. As a 19-year-old facing an unprecedented rookie season, Williams has impressed at every turn and fits right into the Bulls’ build, starting every game he’s appeared in.

Although the Lakers game also started roughly – he scored 2 points on a 1 for 7 shot in the first half – Williams had 11 points (4 for 5 FG, 2 for 3 3P) throughout along the final two quarters. Dump time or not, such a stretch can be a boost.

And, with encouragement from his teammates and coaching staff, he’s vowed to iron out the issues.

“We have a long season to go so I absolutely have to improve,” said Williams of his occasional hesitation in shooting. “And (I) will continue to improve.”

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