Patrick Williams is a key defensive piece for a Chicago Bulls squad intent on making consecutive trips to the playoffs for the first time since 2016 and 2017. The beginning of this year’s campaign marked Williams’ return from injury, but it has not gotten off to the start he or the Bulls were hoping for.
Williams is averaging 5.7 points and 2.0 rebounds per game through three starts on 33.3 percent shooting from the field and 25.0 percent from three. His teammates and coaches have his back despite his struggles to get re-acclimated.
“Stick with it,” Williams said per NBC Sports, after the team’s morning shootaround ahead of Boston’s trip to Chicago. “They (coaches and teammates) know, obviously, I want to play well, and I want them to play well, and they want to play well for themselves as well. But just can’t get too down when you don’t play well. Just reminding, that was what, game three? Of at least 82. Obviously, we want to play past 82. But that was game three of 82.”
Williams will have plenty of chances to improve his play, and he’s using that fact to help give him perspective.
“They kind of know already how I think about myself and my performances, so they really don’t have to say too much. I’ll ask them questions, of course, of what they think I can do better. But I already have answers and they just kind of assure that.”
The Bulls play the Celtics on Monday at 8 PM EST.
