In the world of Coby White “lesson learned,’’ time to move on.
However, that will soon be tested.
The Bulls second-year guard found himself in an unusual location in the United Center, as the second half against Detroit began Wednesday night.
Seated on the bench.
And White wasn’t alone. Because of the sleepy first half that allowed the visiting Pistons to get in front by as much as 25 points, socially-distanced but still sitting close to the starting point guard was also Patrick Williams and Wendell Carter Jr.
“We couldn’t make a shot,’’ Bulls coach Billy Donovan said of his reasoning for the change. “And that happens, and I’ve said that before. But you’ve got to guard a little bit and have a little bit of resistance. And I thought that group [of veterans], closing out the second quarter did a nice job. I’m not sure how much lessons were learned or not learned by that, but for me I was just like, ‘Listen, I’m going to put the guys out there that I really, really feel at this point in time are going to line up defensively and really try to get after it as hard as we can.’ ‘’
That they did.
Thad Young, Garrett Temple and even Zach LaVine went to work defensively in that third quarter, closing the deficit and doing so in grinding fashion as Detroit was held to just 12 points.
White took it all in, and hit a huge three-pointer late in the fourth to help secure the win. He even said all the right things after, holding no ill will with the decision.
“I can’t speak for everyone else, but me personally, I needed to grow up a little bit, letting shots affect how I play,’’ White said. “I gotta compete on both ends of the court, so yeah. It was a learning experience for me. Just a challenge, accept a challenge and continue to move on and do what I can to help my team win.
“Coach called out who was starting the second half [in the locker room], and life moved on. It wasn’t too much of a reaction from me … he made an adjustment, and we won the game, so there’s nothing else really to speak on it about.’’
There will be if it continues, however.
The Bulls are in Philadelphia Friday night, and depending on the injury situation for the 76ers backcourt, White could be matched up with the likes of a Seth Curry or Matisse Thybulle. Then Sacramento comes calling with a much more lethal backcourt. After that, Houston and John Wall.
Donovan is establishing a culture with the Bulls, and White, as well as the other young players, need to be all in or realize they are in the way.
Temple, one of the vets who has been instant leadership for the young core, wasn’t concerned with how White and Williams would react. Like Donovan, Temple has been trying to help establish that culture, and admittedly likes how the young players have embraced criticism.
“The best thing to do as a player is outplay your contract,’’ Temple said of his mentality. “I try to do that every season. That’s part of the reason they brought me here, was to be a leader and teach guys winning habits. Hopefully I’m able to do that and continue to do that. We have a great group of guys here. It might be a pain in the [expletive] if we have guys who don’t listen or are [expletive]-holes. But we have none of that. I cherish it. I love it every day, to be able to talk to these guys, learn from them as well as teach them a few things.’’
