Last spring some NBA coaches and executives were certain about one thing: Jay Williams couldn’t miss.
Now, Williams can’t hit anything.
The Bulls hit the midway point in their schedule Monday in Atlanta with 19 straight road losses, 14 wins overall and their top rookie an emotional wreck.
“I don’t understand,” Williams whispered in the wake of another miserable performance in Saturday night’s double-overtime loss to the Heat in which he had more turnovers than points, 6-5. “I can’t seem to get going, get clicking. I end up messing up or I’m too hesitant.”
Jamal Crawford, who hit vital three-pointers at the end of regulation and in the second overtime Saturday, looks like he’ll draw his third start of the season Monday against the Hawks. He worked with the starters in practice Sunday while Williams rested his sore ankle.
Bulls coach Bill Cartwright said he’ll start Williams if he is healthy enough, but concern has to be growing in the Bulls organization about what they got in Williams. He was to be the only NBA-ready player in last June’s college draft, a certain contributor and eventual star.
He is averaging 9.5 points and 5.3 assists, but shooting just 37.2 percent from the field and 57.3 percent from the free-throw line. That can happen with any rookie, though it’s surprising with a former college player of the year.
But now he seems to have hit bottom. He hasn’t had a field goal in three games.
“We’re barely to halfway,” Williams said with a sigh. “I hope it gets better.”
