CHICAGO (670 The Score) – After a brutal start to the season, Bulls third-year forward Patrick Williams is beginning to string together more consistent, more productive play.
Williams scored 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting and added five rebounds and two blocks to help lead the Bulls to a 106-88 win against the Hornets on Wednesday evening at the United Center. It marked his second straight efficient, highly energetic game in which he showcased quality two-way play, and Williams' performance was much-needed on a night that Bulls star forward DeMar DeRozan and star guard Zach LaVine combined for just 19 points on ugly 6-of-27 shooting.
"Just the energy and the focus that I play with," the 21-year-old Williams said of what's been different lately. "You kind of get to pick and choose, as a player individually, you get to kind of pick and choose what you want to focus on going into the game. For me, I just try to focus on playing with energy, making plays on both ends, just playing my game. Obviously, I made a couple mistakes. Everybody does, but it's a next-play mentality. Whatever the winning play is, I try to make it."
In the Bulls' first four games, Williams averaged just 5.3 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 32.0% and too often being a non-factor on the defensive end. In the past five games, he has averaged 11.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals while shooting 61.1%.
Asked if he's playing with more confidence and aggressiveness lately, Williams pushed back a bit at the line of thought, explaining that his focus is about energy and that he's simply knocking down open shots when the ball finds him.
Whatever you want to call it, Williams has showcased improvement.
"Everyone kind of has different winning plays," Williams said. "I think for me, whether it's rebounding, getting a deflection, getting a steal, obviously making an open shot helps as well, but I think it's making whatever play. For me, I try to hang my hat on being versatile and being able to do multiple different things. I think I sell myself short if I don't. I think I sell myself short if I settle only scoring well or only rebounding or only running the floor. I think I sell myself short that way. So just trying to make whatever play is necessary and I feel like I can make."
Despite Williams' struggles for long stretches in the preseason and the first few games, Bulls coach Billy Donovan has stood by him as the Bulls' starting power forward. That belief is now beginning to pay dividends.
"The consistency of building off not only the last game against Brooklyn but I think the last several games," Donovan said of what he likes most lately about Williams' play. "Again, he's not going to make every shot, but he can get that physicality. And I think you felt him out there athletically, so it's good to see him make some jumps and take some strides as a player. And I would say, as much as we've talked to him and shown him film, I think that he's been the one internally that's really kind of trying to bring it out of himself.
"You feel him out there physically. I like the way he's rolling to the basket. I like the way he's defending. I like the way he's getting his body into plays, the way he's rebounding. I think he's running the floor harder. He's going after the ball."
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.
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