Bulls get Coby White's offensive game — and his voice — back in the mix

HOUSTON — Of course the Bulls missed Coby White’s scoring, playmaking and outside shooting during his three-game absence with a right hip injury.

But what the Bulls also were missing from their guard was that quick-talking North Carolina voice of his.

“For sure we felt it,” teammate Nikola Vucevic said of White being out the last week. “He’s become much more comfortable being that vocal guy for us, especially being the point guard and leading the team offensively, that’s been a huge part.”

White was back on the floor Thursday, but the Bulls lost 127-117 to the Rockets. He came off the bench so coach Billy Donovan had better control of his playing time in the short term.

He played 29 minutes and totaled 13 points, four rebounds and three assists.

And while there was some definite rust in his game, he was at least in full throat. Not that he needed any practice in that department, according to Donovan.

“Because he has been on the bench, that’s helped in timeouts,” Donovan said. “He’s still stayed pretty active and pretty vocal, but I think he’s at a point and time in his career where he’s not afraid to speak up. It’s always about the team. It’s not about criticizing guys on what they should be doing. It’s more a good, positive vibe, but he’s even tried to do that while he’s been out these three games. But on the court that’s where you miss some of that, where he can talk some.”

As far as the rust in White’s game, no one was worried about that. He’s a tireless worker and didn’t miss enough time where his rhythm was that far off.

The Bulls likely will have a practice Friday and then a Saturday shootaround for White to continue ramping up.

“His presence on the court, what he brings for us has also been missed,” Vucevic said. “It’s more than just his scoring, we all know he can do that, but creating for himself and others, making the defense have to focus on him so much, we definitely missed that a lot.

“He’s taken huge steps in every aspect of his game — the skill part, his understanding, the IQ of the game, the vocal part, he’s been much more comfortable with that. And he knows when to use it and when not to, which has been fun to see.”

Crowded bench

The Bulls bench might need some extra chairs during the first week of April.

According to Donovan, injured players Lonzo Ball (left knee), Patrick Williams (foot surgery) and Zach LaVine (foot surgery) all were expected to join the team that week in Chicago, just to check in and spend some time with the group.

LaVine might be the only one who changes his plans, however.

“Obviously [LaVine] having the baby — happy for him and his wife — but I think the plan was provided his rehab goes well that he would be back the first week of April,” Donovan said.

Ball and LaVine sat on the bench when the Bulls were in Los Angeles earlier this month.

Hold the madness

Despite Donovan’s roots in the college game, he admittedly has very little time to enjoy March Madness.

That includes looking at potential draft-ready players until after the season.

“Not right now,” Donovan said, when asked if the front office gives him tape on college players to watch. “In the summertime when we kind of get into the draft stuff, there’s a period of time where they’ll give me a handful of guys and say, ‘Hey listen, can you make some calls, can you watch this, here’s what we’ve seen, here’s the information on him.’ ’’