The simultaneous surge of Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry is casting a long shadow, partially obscuring a similar awakening by Jay Williams.
Not that Williams hasn’t become familiar with a certain obscurity during a trying rookie season with the Bulls. After all, Williams’ decorated college career at Duke cast the longest shadow of all.
Only now, riding a string of double-figure scoring in five of his last six games and consistently displaying his trademark aggressiveness as he pushes the ball upcourt, is Williams gaining perspective on a whirlwind five months that has featured more downs than ups.
“I’ve struggled,” he said. “Sometimes you have to take a step back and realize that this is my first year. And even though I was ready, there are things I was able to do in college that I can’t do here.
“It took me a lot of games. But it’s weird now: Every time I step on the court I feel I can dominate again.”
The statistics bear Williams out.
In this recent six-game surge, he’s averaging 13 points, 4.0 assists and 2.2 turnovers. Throw out a 1-for-10 night against Miami–a game Williams left early when overtaken by stomach flu–and he’s shooting 45.6 percent in the other five games, a substantial improvement on his overall 37.5 percent.
