DETROIT – Rookie Marko Simonovic did get plenty of run at the Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday, but just not the run that he was undoubtedly hoping.
Following the morning shootaround, Simonovic and the other bench players played a five-on-five scrimmage to make sure they kept the condition up and stayed in rhythm.
That will come in handy for the big man and the Windy City Bulls once the G-League tips off in November.
As good as the starters and rotation players looked in the unbeaten preseason the last few weeks, Simonovic’s minutes came in mop-up time, as it was clear he wasn’t in the plans for a rotation spot.
That’s why it’s fair to call this his redshirt year.
“I wouldn’t say he’s behind or ahead,’’ coach Billy Donovan said of Simonovic, who was a draft-and-stash in the second round of the 2020 draft. “I think he’s got to learn the NBA game, the physicality piece for him, he’s got to get stronger.
“This is probably going to be a year where he’s going to have to G-League, us, back and forth, but I do think for a lot of those young guys that’s the opportunity to play. I think for him one of his challenges is he’s been a center pretty much his whole life, and he’ll be fine there. I think the physicality and the speed and the athleticism of the game is probably a lot different. Him catching up to the quickness of it will take a little bit of time.’’
And that’s the problem with the 6-foot-11, 22-year-old from Montenegro. He’s not athletic enough to keep up with most NBA fours, and he’s not physical enough to deal with battling many of the fives in the paint.
That’s why being a tweener on the court is going to make him a go between-er when it comes to Windy City and the big-boy Bulls.
“He’s just going to need to catch up to the game a little bit,’’ Donovan said.
Staying back
Coby White had more than his share of left-out moments this summer, rehabbing his surgically-repaired left shoulder while his teammates were working out and preparing for the season.
While he didn’t make the trip to Detroit, Donovan did say that it was important to keep him engaged as much as possible when there are drills he can participate in.
“When we’re doing 5-on-0 stuff or we’re scripting or running up and down where there’s no contact, we have him involved,’’ Donovan said. “For the summer, it was a very isolating experience for him. Us putting our arms around him and keeping him involved in things he can actually do physically is important for him.’’
White is expected to be re-evaluated in mid-to-late November and then a better timetable for his return should be known.
Head-scratcher
Alex Caruso isn’t 100 percent sure why he’s always been a fan favorite wherever he’s played, but it was like that in Los Angeles, and the Bulls fans are already giving him a huge applause when he enters the game.
That’s why he was anxious to see if it will stay like that all year, starting on Friday in the home opener.
“I just know that the way I play, fans tend to like it,’’ Caruso said. “I play hard. I play to win. I play for my teammates. Those are things that usually translate to success, and I think that kind of comes with you win a championship in LA, they’re going to love you forever regardless of what happens.
“Hopefully the things I mentioned about my game can translate here and bring some more success to the Bulls.’’
