(670 The Score) Bulls forward Patrick Williams’ regression has morphed from a concern into a crisis for the organization.
In another dud of a performance in a season full of underwhelming play, Williams scored just two points and shot 1-of-9 in the Bulls’ 109-97 loss to the 76ers on Saturday evening at the United Center. As usual, Williams got the starting nod and ample minutes. And as is too often the case, he failed to positively impact the game, logging a game-worst -12 in the plus/minus category while recording four rebounds, no blocks, no steals and two turnovers in 27 minutes.
It continued a downward spiral for Williams, who has been particularly bad lately. In 13 games in January, he’s averaging 7.0 points and 2.9 rebounds in 25.6 minutes while shooting 31.7% overall and 28.8% on 3-pointers. Williams had been better earlier in the season, shooting 40.8% on 3-pointers in November and 37.2% on 3-pointers in December.
“He’s tried,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said when asked why it’s so difficult for Williams to make a positive imprint on a game. “It hasn’t gone well. I think he’s tried. He’s trying to be aggressive. He just hasn’t converted very well or hasn’t scored very well, but I do think he’s trying to aggressive. At least that’s how I feel. I don’t feel like he’s floating around. I’ve always felt like we need, just with the size of our team, if we can get more from him rebounding. But in terms offensively, I think he’s trying. He’s getting to the rim. He’s got to probably finish better. He’s had some good looks. He hasn’t shot it really well at all. But I don’t necessarily feel like he’s not trying to be aggressive. I just think when he has been aggressive, the result hasn’t been what he wants or anybody wants.”
The reason that Williams’ woes are a crisis for the Bulls rather than simply a disappointment lies in the lucrative contract he signed in the offseason. The Bulls retained the 23-year-old Williams, who was a restricted free agent, on a five-year, $90-million deal in July. Some in the NBA immediately viewed it as an overpay, and that has indeed been the case.
No contract is untradeable in the NBA, but Williams’ is certainly a burden for Chicago given his poor play and the length of it. Williams is averaging 9.1 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 37.0% overall and 35.5% on 3-pointers in 36 games for the season. He’s shooting an abysmal 43.8% on shots within five feet of the rim, according to NBA.com.
Despite his woes, Williams flashed a sliver of defiance in a postgame interview Saturday. Asked where his confidence level is, he didn’t share an answer that reflected what had transpired on the court earlier in the night.
“I got game,” Williams said without elaborating.
Williams’ other comments were better rooted in recent reality, as he acknowledged his play has been underwhelming. The trouble for the Bulls is they've tried so much with Williams, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, through his five years in the league.
He has started. He has come off the bench. He has worked with different coaches on staff. He has stood in the corner in a bit role, ready to just catch-and-shoot. He has been tasked with attacking the basket more, to poor results. He has played on a slow-paced team centered around veteran star DeMar DeRozan. Now he's playing on a team among the league leaders in pace with DeRozan long gone.
Nothing has seemed to work to get him going.
"It always frustrates me,” Williams said of his struggles.” I think you guys know at this point, I always try to stay even-keeled, whether it's highs or lows. I just try to work my way through it. I know they come. Highs come, lows come. The only way out is through. That's kind of just my mindset – going through it. I know what I can do. I know what I've done in this league. I think you guys know as well, I think my teammates know, my coaches know. That's why they're so on me. That's why I'm on myself. Nobody wants it more than me. I can guarantee you that. If I had the answers, it would be fixed already. All I know is work. That's what got me here. I've had lows and I've had highs before. I just work through them. I always got through them. I don’t have the answers, but that’s all I’ve got.”
Cody Westerlund is an editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.