Rookie Dalen Terry ended his first official apply as a Chicago Bull with a present of help from teammate Patrick Williams.
Williams picked out the Bulls rookie as the highest competitor of the apply, highlighting Terry’s vitality on his first day scrimmaging in opposition to his new teammates as he prepares for the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas subsequent week. The Bulls chosen Terry with the 18th choose of the draft final month.
“It gave me a little bit more confidence,” Terry mentioned. “He was here last year, he’s been through what I’ve been through. So for him to do that is definitely a nod and respect, and I appreciate him for saying that.”
Williams, the Bulls’ choose at No. 4 in 2020, supplied a direct problem for Terry, who’s relishing the prospect to face off in opposition to skilled gamers in his first days on the Advocate Center.
Bulls Summer League coach John Bryant mentioned the 2 had a good quantity of pleasant trash speak of their restricted matchups on the primary day of apply.
“He’s been in the league, so I give him his respect,” Terry mentioned of Williams. “But I’m going to compete. I ain’t backing down now.”
Williams and Ayo Dosunmu gained’t play in Las Vegas this 12 months, however each gamers will prepare with the total Vegas roster this week to arrange for the preseason.
Bryant mentioned the Bulls need Dosunmu and Williams to spend the rest of the offseason centered on scrimmaging in opposition to top-caliber competitors.
“That’s why they’re here this week,” Bryant mentioned. “There’s a lot of individual development, but they need to get game reps daily against NBA and fringe NBA players. So that alone in our building, in front of our coaching staff and coach (Billy) Donovan, they’re going to improve.”
Although Terry has been having fun with the Chicago summer time since he was drafted June 23 — making a cease on the Bean earlier this week — he spent most of his time understanding. Bryant mentioned he noticed Terry within the fitness center not less than 3 times a day since he arrived in Chicago.
Terry desires to enhance his taking pictures — amongst different issues — as a rookie. He likened his development to build up a participant within the online game NBA 2K — proper now, he sees his stats as 75s, with a objective of enhancing to 99s throughout the board.
“I’m good at some things, but I’m not great at nothing,” Terry mentioned. “I’m trying to be great at everything.”
Marko Simonović bulks up
Second-year middle Marko Simonović placed on a noticeable quantity of mass within the offseason, a development the Bulls are hoping will assist the 2021 second-round choose make the bounce to the first-team roster this season.
“His shoulders look like a grown man,” Bryant mentioned of Simonović, 22. “He’s obviously been working. He’s obviously been doing something. He’s eating at least.”
As one of many major big-man coaches on the Bulls workers, Bryant logged day by day periods with Simonović all through his rookie season. Bryant famous physicality as a key enchancment crucial for Simonović to maneuver from the highest scorer for the Windy City Bulls to a contributing participant on the Bulls roster.
Putting on muscle is one factor. Translating that energy to the courtroom would be the subsequent step for Simonović.
“Every big needs to be able to finish in traffic, so every day, that’s a drill that we’ve worked on,” Bryant mentioned. “I’m excited to see his development there. He needs to at least be able to take the contact and finish, so that’s one thing. But can he be a consistent rebounder? Does he have a really good touch? Can he shoot consistently? I think all of those things will be answered in the next few days.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com