The Chicago Bulls needed a boost going up against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. That was especially true for Matas Buzelis. Under a new system, Buzelis is admittedly having a hard time adjusting to the system outlined by head coach Tiago Splitter.
However, in the opening minutes, Buzelis provided a highlight reel against none other than LeBron James. With the Bulls off to a strong start, Buzelis got the ball. He brought it up the floor, guarded by James. He then crossed over James and finished with a mid-range jumper to put the Bulls up 8-2.
After all, it is the mid-range jumpers that Buzelis needs to work on after years of being held back in that regard.
The Bulls put up a good fight against one of the league's most powerful teams. They finished the first quarter trailing 34-33. Altogether, Buzelis finished with 5 points, whereas James finished with only three.
Chicago enters the game with a 1-7 record. The young team is struggling as it looks to cultivate a new identity. As a result, Buzelis has been having to deal with situations unfamiliar to him. For instance, Buzelis was benched in the last quarter of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on October 23. The Bulls' only win so far was a 132-125 win.
Conversely, James and company are trying to live up to heightened expectations to be the best team in the NBA. A team featuring Jaylen Brown, VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid is destined to win it all and, in the process, give James another championship for another team.
However, Buzelis's confidence is not intimidated.