LAS VEGAS — True bring-the-ball-up, initiate-the-offense point guards are becoming extinct.
Matas Buzelis showed Friday in the Bulls’ 116-72 loss to the Raptors that he’s looking to become one of the invasive species that accelerates that process.
That’s what this brief Summer League appearance was supposed to be for the 6-10, second-year Bulls forward — a chance for him to put concept into practice by not only rebounding but playing the role of ballhandler and facilitator, and doing it with pace.
And this isn’t a novel philosophy. NBA teams have been allowing their athletic bigs to attack opposing defenses the last few seasons, whether it was Giannis Antetokounmpo for the Bucks, Nikola Jokic with the Nuggets or even Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg in his Summer League debut Thursday.
The philosophy is simple: Attack your opponents before they can set the defense or jump into the right matchups, and if the big also happens to be the best offensive player on the roster, even better.
Pressure, pressure and more pressure on the offensive end.
This is the evolution the Bulls want to see from Buzelis.
It took a few minutes into the game against the Raptors, but it was evident.
With 5:20 left in the first quarter, Buzelis grabbed one of his five rebounds, took three dribbles to cover half the court and found a wide-open Lachlan Olbrich heading toward the basket. The second-round pick blew the layup, but the point was made.
There were, of course, some hiccups, especially when the Raptors made it a point to double-team and blitz Buzelis, which they did more often in the second half, but he showed he has the ballhandling skills and vision to take some more responsibility.
Buzelis finished with 17 points and got to the free-throw line seven times. He won’t play Saturday but could play later next week.
“It’s cool because I used to play that position,” Buzelis said. “I was a point guard when I was younger, so it’s me getting back to my roots. I always had the ball in my hands. It’s like second nature. Against [the Raptors], very tough team, it was tough. They had seven rotational guys, picked up full-court, but I think it’s a great idea, honestly. I think I can strive.”
It’s not all they want to see as Buzelis was expected to play only the first few Summer League games.
Buzelis’ rookie season was all about crawling before walking. But once coach Billy Donovan took the training wheels off, making the 11th overall draft pick a starter, the staff watched his game pop. He averaged 13 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks and shot 35% from three-point range and 47.3% overall from the field.
Not bad in just scratching the surface of his skills.
The hope was some added weight to his frame would kick up the physicality, and while it was against a bunch of Summer Leaguers, Buzelis also showed there was muscle behind the hustle.
One highlight was a strong left-handed drive in which he split the double team, took the contact at the rim and finished for a three-point play.
“I think it gives us another look,” Buzelis said. “If I get by my guy, I’m going straight to the rim, dunking it. I can make plays. I think it’s something to look into, quite honestly.”
