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Are the Chicago Bulls back?
Probably not, but based on the atmosphere in the United Center, it sure felt like it. Maybe it was because it was Benny the Bull’s birthday, or maybe it had more to do with the 125-99 win over the Indiana Pacers. Either way, it was a dramatic departure from their worst loss of the season to the Washington Wizards in the game prior.
The Pacers were finishing up a five-game road trip that started with the Detroit Pistons before heading west to face the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Clippers before the Bulls. In their fourth game in six nights, it was clear the Pacers were on their last legs.
With just 99 points, the Pacers had their lowest scoring output of the season. They shot just 13-of-42 from deep for 31 percent, six percent below their average.
And to their credit, the Bulls took advantage with one of their best defensive showings of the season.
“I thought that we really were, I felt very connected defensively, there was really good communication,” Billy Donovan said. “I thought we were on point when we needed to switch and we were on point when we needed to stay in coverages and stay with our man. And the only way that happens is through communication.”
Javonte Green had his first minutes since re-signing with the Bulls on a 10-day contract and immediately reminded everyone why he became a fan favorite.
Finishing as a team-high +26, Green made an instant impact on the defensive end, where he helped hold Pascal Siakam to just 2-of-7 shooting (nevermind the 9-of-11 on free throws). He played nine-straight minutes in his first stint and 18 total.
“Yeah, of course,” Green said when asked whether he could feel the love from the United Center fans. “I had butterflies. I just knew I had to just go in there and just do what I do. They came to see and do what I do.”
“It means a lot, you know, especially coming from this city,” he went on. “The city that really gave me opportunity to showcase my talent…And I know the type of player Chicago likes, so just going out there and just having that feeling that the love that they showed tonight was a great feeling.”
White started the game 0-for-6 from the field before converting his first basket on a three-point attempt in the second quarter.
“Coby is not a complainer and doesn’t really ever make excuses,” Donovan said of his point guard.
Donovan wasn’t making excuses for White either. But he did acknowledge the fact that White has been back long enough to knock off the rust.
In the three prior games since returning from his injury, White was just 14-of-44 for 31.8 percent from the field and 5-of-21 for 23.8 percent from three.
“He’ll never say this, but I will,” Donovan said. “I think some of the minutes had a lot to do with that before they hit. I do think that that impacted him, and I don’t know if he’s felt like he’s fully recovered physically (from the hip injury), but I do think the minutes have played a role in some of the slide of him shooting the ball.”
At the same time, Donovan laid out the hard truth — for as great as White has been this season, he has still experienced dramatic dry spells. Those stretches haven’t lasted as long as they did in years past, and the upside makes it easy to forget them. But that’s an area in which White needs to continue to improve.
“I think he’s had enough games back to get his rhythm,” Donovan said. “I think he’s gotten good looks. He hasn’t shot the ball well. I think that will be an area of growth for him moving forward has been, where he’s gone like on these unbelievable tears for two, three weeks and then he’s had some time where he hasn’t shot the ball well, where there’s been pretty big swings.”
Whether White is shooting the lights out or not, he needs to be a consistent leader for the Bulls. That piece can’t wax and wane depending on his performance. The team needs him to be a steady source of leadership.
“I was explaining to Coby like, ‘you’re gonna have to, regardless of how it’s going for you, you’re going to have to be a ‘let’s go’ guy’,” Donovan said. “He didn’t have a great shooting night at all. But he was into the game. He was into it on the bench. He was into it in huddles. He did a phenomenal job and you know, Torrey Craig, after the game, acknowledged how much it helped him, and but it brought a lot of life to our team.”
Maybe that mentality and enthusiasm can help him break out of those shooting slumps when he has them. Following the first quarter, he was 8-of-15 and finished with 18 points on the night.
Up next: The Bulls travel to face the Brooklyn Nets with just nine games left in the season
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