Patrick Williams said he watches 10 to 20 times of his matches against elite players to see what he can record in his game.
Hopefully Williams will take part where his primary defensive assignment, Kawhi Leonard, has mastered the art of midfield.
The Bulls do not need Williams to shoot 21 times like Leonard in the Los Angeles Clippers’ methodical man-handling of the Bulls Friday night at the United Center. But Leonard’s 33-point masterpiece performance in the Clippers’ 125-106 victory offered 13-for-15 shots from a 2-point series and stands in stark contrast to Williams who took just five shots.
“I think it will be his evolution,” coach Billy Donovan said. “He needs to be able to stay involved and put pressure on the defense. We tried to do something for him from the third quarter to make him aggressive on a ride. They did a good job of guarding it. He did try to drive the ball a few times.He once got an error going to the basket.But I think he plays downhill, does a little more, that’s what we need to do.
‘Listen, a lot is coming to him. And of course he had a hard game. ‘
Do not read it as a critique of Williams, who accepts such assignments with focus and without complaint. Without the benefit of the summer league or even a normal training camp, Williams, the youngest player in the league, has already guarded Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James and Leonard – twice the latter.
Welcome to the NBA.
But for Williams to become the elite two-way he wants to be, he cannot be satisfied with five strokes and 3 points within five minutes, no matter how difficult the defensive assignment is.
“Nothing is easy in this league. But if you work so hard on the defensive side, when it comes to the offensive end, it’s quite a time to rest. But the player I want to be and the person I “I want to be in this league, I have to be able to do it on both sides,” Williams said. “Like Kawhi, he’s very good on both sides. Just watch his movie, get better from it. “
Williams said the defensive plan makes for a more aggressive Leonard, as the Clippers played without Paul George. Leonard, as elite players do, came in his place too comfortably.
“It’s up to me,” Williams said.
It’s always Williams’ first instinct – to look inside. He also extends questions about his individual play to the team construction. These are all admirable qualities and why even difficult nights like Friday can be instructive and educational.
“Thad (Young) at the beginning when I arrived here said to me: ‘Learn from the good days, but also learn from the days when you are not doing so well, where you really have to sit down and be better with your next outing, whether it’s practice or games, ” Williams said. “Of course I did not do as well as I could. But not to do it about myself, I think we dropped the ball in some areas. And we just have to watch the movie and get better. “
The Bulls have a day off on Saturday. We bet it will not rest everything for Williams. The movie theater in the Advocate Center can practice.
“I want to be great in this league. And I think my teammates and my coaching staff have the confidence that I will be really good or good in this league,” Williams said. “I do it for myself, but I do it for them too. Just to let them know that I have so much confidence in myself, and that I have so much confidence in myself. And that the confidence comes through film, that the confidence through the work.
“I just want to be there for them. I think (Friday), I was not quite there for them, defensive or offensive. I did not hold out my end of the bargain. I do not want it to happen again. I will therefore do whatever it takes. ‘
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