![\"Patrick](\"https:\/\/specials-images.forbesimg.com\/imageserve\/60b53671b5df6df6a5d5cd45\/960x0.jpg\")
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SALT LAKE CITY \u2014 With just 14 regular-season games left, Bulls forward Patrick Williams <\/b>can ease some concerns about his game, but he isn\u2019t going to change any minds. He is what he is this season \u2014 including to some inside the organization.<\/p>\n
Coach Billy Donovan <\/b>hopes Williams can use the rest of the season to progress, specifically in his decision-making, before entering the offseason with a plan for how he can step up and play to the five-year, $90\u2009\u2009million contract he received last summer.<\/p>\n
\u201cNever mind the injury part because he did have two situations, last year with [his foot] and then [his] wrist [in 2021-22],\u201d Donovan said. \u201cBut besides that, I think he\u2019s a guy who, early in his career \u2014 and it\u2019s still early in his career \u2014 had a hard time getting over mistakes. I think he\u2019s gotten past that and he\u2019s been better with that. The other part is the decision-making part of it. There\u2019s times he\u2019s got to get off [the ball]. There\u2019s times he\u2019s got to shoot. There\u2019s times he\u2019s got to drive it.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are times he must box out, as well. That was the situation late in Saturday\u2019s loss to the Rockets when Williams missed Jalen Green <\/b>on the boxout, resulting in a putback that played into the outcome.<\/p>\n
As Williams works his way back to form after missing nine games with a sore knee, there have been rusty moments. Donovan conceded he didn\u2019t think Williams played well in his first game back against the Pacers before showing some life against the Nets and Rockets. But there has to be more progress than that.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe one area he falls into a lot because of his strength and his athleticism, he can get to spots on the floor and take those pullup, fadeaway jump shots,\u201d Donovan said. \u201cI\u2019m not saying they\u2019re bad shots for him. Certainly, later in the clock, they\u2019re good, but if you look across the league, generally those shots \u2014 maybe besides (Kevin<\/b>) Durant <\/b>and a few guys \u2014 it\u2019s a tough shot to live with.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe other part is getting his size, strength, athleticism into the game on every single possession and having the wherewithal and drive to do that. He\u2019s been a very good defender for us, but can he be more active shot-blocking? Can he be more active on the defensive glass? Can he be more active on the offensive glass? Those things would allow him to see an evolution.\u201d<\/p>\n
Giddey watch<\/b><\/p>\n
Guard Josh Giddey<\/b>, who has been sidelined for more than a week with a sprained ankle, went through live work before the shootaround Monday morning and was able to jump and cut. The Bulls believe they\u2019ll get him back in the next few games. They play back-to-back games in Phoenix and Sacramento on Wednesday and Thursday and they don\u2019t want him playing in both contests. If Giddey plays against the Suns on Wednesday, he\u2019ll almost certainly sit out against the Kings.<\/p>\n
Ball back soon, too<\/b><\/p>\n
Guard Lonzo Ball<\/b> remained in Chicago, still experiencing pain in his injured right wrist. Donovan expects to see him back with the team at some point this week. In all likelihood, he\u2019ll continue his rehab and rejoin the Bulls in Los Angeles on Friday, regardless of whether he\u2019s able to play.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Williams hasn’t exactly done himself any favors in the eyes of Bulls fans with his play since returning from injury, but coach Billy Donovan made it very clear what Williams needs to work on and has the remainder of this season to do so.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":44243,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44237","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"\n