Coby White finally a starter?
It no longer sounded like just speculation on Saturday. Bulls coach Jim Boylen made sure of that, again answering media questions about the prized rookie, and insisting it wasn’t “if,’’ but “when?’’
“I think that day is probably coming,’’ Boylen said. “And is there a time when we look at the development side of this. We’ve talked all year about developing and winning. Is that day coming? I would say, ‘Yes, probably.’ When, I’m not exactly sure.
“The fact that Coby was rookie of the month in the Eastern Conference to me is just a huge growth plate for him from where he was in Summer League and when we first got him. And not that we didn’t love him and he wasn’t talented, but he’s improved.’’
With just 19 games left and a brutal schedule this month, playoff talk is more a wish than reality. The entire Bulls organization knows that.
That’s why it would make sense for White to take that next step in development and play against first-teamers as a starter. The numbers just don’t say that, they scream it.
In his eight games played since the All-Star Weekend, White has averaged starter minutes – putting in 33 minutes per game, and has watched his scoring go up from 11.1 per game pre-All-Star to 25.8 since. More importantly, his assists per game have also gone up from 2.4 to 3.8.
While it didn’t sound like Boylen was ready to make that move in Brooklyn on Sunday – and again, the coach is no stranger to changing his mind from day-to-day on lineups – it would be better for the evaluation process if White joins the starting lineup alongside Tomas Satoransky and Zach LaVine.
LaVine has been dealing with a quad injury, so was a game-time decision against the Nets.
LaVine, White and Satoransky can all play-make and play off the ball, but haven’t seen a ton of minutes together on the floor.
It could very well be the starting three-guard attack the Bulls roll out next season, so why not get a glimpse?
Not the only thing this organization needs to see over the final five weeks:
1. Off the Mark – Yes, Lauri Markkanen is still trying to work rust off his game in the wake of the right pelvis injury, but it wasn’t like the third-year 7-footer was a model of consistency before he missed 15 games.
This has to be a focal point of the offense down the stretch.
Markkanen was considered – at worst – the Robin to LaVine’s Batman at the start of the season. Now, the entire plan of the rebuild hinges on Markkanen finding some sort of consistency and giving the front office a good feeling going into the offseason.
If not, they seriously have to consider making a major trade this offseason, whether it’s Markkanen, who clearly isn’t happy, or admitting that Thaddeus Young was the right free agent at the wrong time and moving the veteran.
2. Center of attention – Wendell Carter Jr. is the starting center, but admittedly has his eyes on being a full-time four someday. That has to go on the backburner, as it’s time to see if Carter can not only patrol the middle with consistency, but actually become an intricate part of some offensive sets rather than get most of his points off second-chance opportunities.
Like White, Carter has a winning mentality and could emerge as the vocal leader of this group moving forward. Time to let the big dog eat.
