There seemingly shouldn’t be much to salvage out of the disappointment that has been the 2019-20 Bulls campaign.
Underachieving, uncertainty with the front office and coaching staff beyond next month, and another lost season of a roster that has been proven to be poorly constructed.
Coby White’s about all this organization has these days, so heck yeah they’re going to shine the spotlight on the rookie guard as brightly as they can the final 18 games.
Hinting since last week that White was playing his way into a starting spot, coach Jim Boylen made it official after the Monday practice, announcing White was in that first unit, while Tomas Satoransky was moving to a bench role.
“Well, I think the biggest thing is this is the next stage in his development,’’ Boylen said of the decision to go with White. “He’s earned this opportunity. He’s grown into this opportunity. And we’ll take it a game at a time and we’ll coach him the same way we’ve been coaching him. I’m excited for him.
“He started off as a guy that was off-the-ball [at the start of the season], we gravitated him more to the ball, and now he’s going to be on the ball more with that first group. I think the progression has been good, it’s been good.’’
Offensively, it’s been more than just good lately. It’s been terrific.
White won Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for February, averaging 20.1 points per game in nine contests, as well as 4.1 assists and 4.0 rebounds. Since the All-Star Game, how about 25.2 points and 4.2 assists per game.
But according to Boylen, it’s his growth on the defensive end that allowed White to force his way into that starting group.
“What he’s given me most of all is a willingness to improve at it,’’ Boylen said of White’s defense. “His value of it, he takes it very seriously, his development at that end. I’ve mentioned it before, we watch his defensive clips together. I mentioned he’s improved his angle of containment, he’s improved his pick-and-roll stance and position and his technique there, and his overall physicality and competitiveness has improved.
“That’s a huge growth plate for him, and he’s locked into it, which I think had to happen for him to get this opportunity. If he hadn’t grown at the defensive end like he has I don’t think this opportunity would be coming for him, so he needs to get the credit for that.’’
As for Satoransky, Boylen said the vet took the news well.
“Tomas is a professional,’’ Boylen said. “Tomas was good. He was really good. Tomas just wants to help the team win. He’ll do that in any role we give him. That’s why we wanted him. He’s a team guy.’’
White’s first start will at least be a home game, but will be a challenge facing off against Cleveland’s young backcourt. The No. 7 overall pick from last June’s draft, however, wasn’t making a big deal out of the situation.
“I honestly didn’t think I would be starting, you know,’’ White said. “Like I said, coach never put the idea out there, we never really talked about it so I was comfortable without starting, you know. I’m excited to start but I was also comfortable not starting.’’
What White is excited about? Getting a chance to show off those defensive improvements.
“I feel like I came a long way [defensively] both on the ball and off the ball, I’ve learned a lot, and I’ve gotten better at it over the course of the season,’’ White said. “I’m just gonna continue to keep getting better and continue to keep grinding on defense.’’
