Bulls Hope Coby White Returns to Game Action in Couple of Weeks, Coach Says.
The Chicago Bulls are cautiously optimistic about the return of guard Coby White from a calf strain he suffered before training camp. Coach Billy Donovan says White is progressing well, doing start-and-stop movements, running, sprinting, cutting, and jumping without any discomfort. However, after a recent flare-up in October, the training staff wants to see him perform these movements for an extended period of time without any setbacks.
The Bulls' cautious approach comes after notable examples of players returning from calf injuries only to experience more severe injuries shortly thereafter. Donovan hopes that White's calf is healed entirely within a couple of weeks, with the goal of having him back on the court practicing with the team by next week.
Without White, the Bulls have been playing their best basketball since the Michael Jordan era, with an up-and-down style that has been working well for them so far. Donovan doesn't think White's return will disrupt what's working, as he is not a ball-dominant guard. However, his return will force other guards to adjust their roles and require some changes to the rotation.
Donovan offered some advice to White: "One, don't come back tiptoeing in. That would be the first issue. And then secondly, give yourself some grace. It's going to take you some time." The coach also emphasized the importance of patience with oneself and not rushing back too quickly.
In other news, guard Ayo Dosunmu is progressing but still day-to-day with a bruised left quadriceps. He missed his second straight game on Tuesday night against the 76ers due to concerns about his ability to fire that quad in a way that's necessary for his role. Coach Donovan expressed concern that the Bulls might not be able to replicate their success from Sunday's loss to the Knicks, which was partly due to Dosunmu's absence.
Despite their early-season success, the Bulls know they can't afford to ignore the little details and make mistakes in critical games. Donovan attributed the loss to poor ball movement and a failure to box out in transition, saying that "we just drove through them." The coach emphasized the importance of attention to detail and making adjustments as needed to avoid slipping up.
The Chicago Bulls are cautiously optimistic about the return of guard Coby White from a calf strain he suffered before training camp. Coach Billy Donovan says White is progressing well, doing start-and-stop movements, running, sprinting, cutting, and jumping without any discomfort. However, after a recent flare-up in October, the training staff wants to see him perform these movements for an extended period of time without any setbacks.
The Bulls' cautious approach comes after notable examples of players returning from calf injuries only to experience more severe injuries shortly thereafter. Donovan hopes that White's calf is healed entirely within a couple of weeks, with the goal of having him back on the court practicing with the team by next week.
Without White, the Bulls have been playing their best basketball since the Michael Jordan era, with an up-and-down style that has been working well for them so far. Donovan doesn't think White's return will disrupt what's working, as he is not a ball-dominant guard. However, his return will force other guards to adjust their roles and require some changes to the rotation.
Donovan offered some advice to White: "One, don't come back tiptoeing in. That would be the first issue. And then secondly, give yourself some grace. It's going to take you some time." The coach also emphasized the importance of patience with oneself and not rushing back too quickly.
In other news, guard Ayo Dosunmu is progressing but still day-to-day with a bruised left quadriceps. He missed his second straight game on Tuesday night against the 76ers due to concerns about his ability to fire that quad in a way that's necessary for his role. Coach Donovan expressed concern that the Bulls might not be able to replicate their success from Sunday's loss to the Knicks, which was partly due to Dosunmu's absence.
Despite their early-season success, the Bulls know they can't afford to ignore the little details and make mistakes in critical games. Donovan attributed the loss to poor ball movement and a failure to box out in transition, saying that "we just drove through them." The coach emphasized the importance of attention to detail and making adjustments as needed to avoid slipping up.