Bulls doing everything they can to keep guard Coby White on the court
HOUSTON — There was a plan in place for Coby White.
Thanks to a United Center hardwood court covered in condensation last week, however, plans have changed.
In rescheduling the Jan. 8 game to Jan. 29 and putting back-to-back games back in play, White and his calf issue could be headed for more time in street clothes. White sat out of Tuesday’s game against the Rockets out of caution for the right calf, but there was an optimistic plan in place before games were moved around, according to Billy Donovan.
“The feeling was if the Miami game would have taken place (last week), (White) would have played all the way through the All-Star Break,” the coach said. “With that back-to-back there now and the number of games being condensed at the end of January, they’re going to have to look at that. I’m not saying he’s playing, I’m not saying he’s not, but that’s a concern because the last time that calf spiked itself was three in four and he played in those.
“There was some good optimism that if the Miami game was played (last week), the next back-to-back wasn’t until March and if he would have continued on a good track he would have played in that back-to-back.”
The other factor in play that Donovan didn’t discuss was the Bulls also want to make sure that White can stay fully healthy through the Feb. 5 trade deadline in case they get more serious calls on him. The Sun-Times reported back in December that there were trade discussions with White going to Minnesota, and while those talks cooled for a bit, business has been picking up again. Not just with the Timberwolves, but several other teams eyeing the combo guard.
The Bulls do want to show he’s healthy — obvious by the fact that his minutes restriction is now up to 28 — but also want to remain cautious with a calf issue that first started back in early August.
Walking boot
Zach Collins met with multiple doctors on Tuesday, looking for other opinions on his sprained right toe, and the team was expecting to get a bit more clarity on his timetable when they get back to Chicago.
What is known is that the backup big could be sidelined longer than first expected.
“The problem is the boot,” Donovan said. “They want to keep him in the boot but really no one has made a decision on how long he needs to be in the boot and what will happen. And then if he is in the boot what can they do to maintain strength in his calf? Because if he stays in that boot for an extended period of time they are worried about him losing strength and some muscle in that calf. That can take a period of time to build that back up.”
Dual threat
Kevin Huerter has been used as a starter and a reserve since coming to the Bulls last season, having success in both roles. Last season, his plus/minus was better as a starter and this season it’s been better as a reserve.
That’s why he said he’s fine with however Donovan wants to use him.
“It really doesn’t matter,” Huerter said. “I think I’ve been really effective at times for this team coming off the bench. To be honest my minutes and my role don’t change, whether I’m coming off the bench or starting, and that’s not the same for every team or every coach across the NBA. The way that we sub and play on this team, the lineups we use, it doesn’t matter that much.”