Bulls’ Lineup Shake-Up Is Breathing Life into Matas Buzelis-and Chicago’s Season
After a brutal seven-game skid, the Chicago Bulls needed more than a spark-they needed a full-on reset. Credit to head coach Billy Donovan, who’s taken that challenge head-on by reworking his rotations and leaning into a more experimental approach.
The result? A three-game win streak and a team that suddenly looks like it’s rediscovering its identity.
The biggest change? Donovan’s willingness to go double-big.
It’s not just a stylistic shift-it’s a strategic recalibration that’s helping the Bulls find balance on both ends of the floor. He’s still going 11 deep, but with a more intentional touch: Patrick Williams’ minutes have been dialed back, the core four are being managed around the 30-minute mark, and Nikola Vučević is seeing shorter, more efficient stints.
It’s a tighter, more responsive rotation-and it’s working.
But the most intriguing ripple effect of this new-look Bulls lineup? The emergence of Matas Buzelis.
Buzelis Finding His Groove
Let’s be real-Buzelis' rookie campaign hit some turbulence early. At 6-foot-8 and 209 pounds, he’s got the height of a four but the frame of a three, and that tweener status has made his fit a bit tricky.
Chicago’s roster makeup has often forced him into power forward duties, where he’s had to battle bigger, stronger players. That’s not ideal for a 21-year-old still finding his NBA legs.
But Donovan’s double-big lineups have changed the calculus. With Vučević, Zach Collins, and Jalen Smith sharing the floor in various combinations, Buzelis is getting more time at small forward-and it’s paying off.
Even in limited minutes at the three, like in the Bulls’ recent nail-biter win over Atlanta (where he logged just four minutes at the position), the shift has been noticeable. The game is slowing down for him.
The confidence is building.
And the numbers back it up.
Over the Bulls’ last three games, Buzelis has averaged 20.3 points on a blistering 66.7% shooting from the field and 50% from deep. Yes, that stat line is buoyed by a 28-point outburst against Atlanta, but even beyond the box score, his December has been a clear step forward from a sluggish November.
He’s not just floating around the perimeter anymore. He’s attacking.
He’s getting to the line. He’s putting the ball on the floor and forcing defenses to react.
That’s the version of Buzelis Chicago hoped to see when they took him 11th overall.
The Road Ahead: A Real Test of the Bulls’ Identity
Of course, the NBA doesn’t give out gold stars for three-game win streaks in December. The real test is coming-and fast.
Chicago’s next four games feature a gauntlet of physical, high-impact forwards: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Julius Randle, Zion Williamson, and Paolo Banchero. That’s a murderers’ row of size, strength, and skill, and it’s going to push Donovan’s double-big experiment to its limits.
Can Buzelis hold up when he’s inevitably switched onto those matchups? Or will Donovan need to tweak his rotations again to protect the young forward?
Either way, these games will be telling. It’s one thing to say Buzelis is more comfortable at the three-it’s another to see him thrive against the elite. If Donovan’s new lineups can hold their own against that kind of frontcourt firepower, it’ll be a strong signal that this version of the Bulls has real staying power.
Unlocking Buzelis’ Best
What’s clear is that Buzelis is trending in the right direction. His early-season struggles weren’t just about missed shots-they were about confidence. When Coby White returned to the lineup and the offense shifted, Buzelis often faded into the background, settling for spot-up threes and avoiding contact.
But lately? He’s putting his foot on the gas.
He’s attacking closeouts. He’s initiating offense.
He’s getting downhill and drawing fouls. That’s the kind of assertiveness Chicago needs from him-not just to win now, but to build something sustainable around a young core.
Donovan’s lineup tweaks may have started as a response to a losing streak, but they’ve opened the door for Buzelis to find his rhythm. And if he keeps this up, the Bulls might not just salvage their season-they might come out of it with a rising star who’s finally found his place.