Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan has named Patrick Williams the team’s starting power forward. This means Javonte Green will start the 2022-23 season in the second division.
Donovan rotated his players during the preseason. In Chicago’s preseason opener, Williams was the starter. Of course, Green started for the Bulls in the second exhibition game. Derrick Jones Jr. started the third game.
A few NBA betting sites are giving the Bulls 18th-best odds to win the championship in 2023. Several sportsbooks are expecting Zach LaVine to return to the playoffs this season.
Billy Donovan says Patrick Williams is the Bulls’ starting power forward. Javonte Green will start the year in the second division.
— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) October 18, 2022
Williams averaged 11 points and 3.8 rebounds in 22.3 minutes per game during the preseason. He finished with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in the Bulls’ 127-104 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
However, Green averaged 15 points and 5 rebounds on 20-28 shooting from the field and 6-9 from downtown. The forward finished with 10 points and 5 rebounds for the Bucks.
It should go without saying that nothing is set in stone. Lineup subject to change. Coaches always rotate players through the first two weeks of each season to see which starters perform best.
In the season opener, the Bulls play the Miami Heat tomorrow, Wednesday at 7:30 pm ET. Not to mention, guard Lonzo Ball and forward Justin Lewis are out.
Bulls head coach Billy Donovan has named Patrick Williams the starting power forward for the 2022-23 season.
On Tuesday, Donovan spoke to reporters about his coaching decisions. “I’m not as wrapped up in the starting lineup as how we’re going to buy off the bench, who’s going to come in next,” the Bulls coach explained.
Things will happen based on the experience and information we get from our team. It could be a situation where Patrick plays, and we put him in the second unit and take Javonte out with the first unit.
But you have to look at the totality of the game, at least in terms of the first half if you’re playing nine or 10 players. How to spin and buy and how to create combinations of players to play with.
Williams was also selected fourth overall by the Bulls in the 2020 NBA Draft. In 71 starts during the 2020-21 rookie season, the Florida State product averaged 9.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.
Additionally, the forward shot 48.3% from the floor and 39.1% from beyond the arc. On December 23, 2020, Williams made his NBA debut. He had 16 points and 4 rebounds in the Bulls’ 124-104 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
At the end of the season, Williams was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
The wing sprained his wrist in the fifth game of the 2021-22 season. It is taken 4 to 6 months after surgery. Last season, Williams averaged 9 points and 4.1 rebounds in 17 games.
Additionally, the forward scored a game-high 35 points in 41 minutes of action in the Bulls’ 124-120 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 10, 2022. He finished 10 of 21 (47.6%) from the field and 3 of 4 (75%) from 3-point range.
