CLEVELAND — The second free throw was made with 10:01 left in the fourth quarter, and then came the latest lesson for Bulls point guard Coby White.
After crawling out of a 20-point first-half deficit, White gave the Bulls their first lead of the game Monday night against the Cavaliers.
Time to put the game on ice. Winning time.
But White next missed a 24-footer, arguably taken too quickly in the possession. Then came a turnover by Zach LaVine, followed by a White turnover. After another bad pass by White turned into a Cavs basket, coach Billy Donovan pulled him for a breather.
White got his lungs back in just under three minutes and was back in the game, only to hit a layup but miss the free throw.
By the time the final horn sounded, a one-point lead was an 18-point loss, all in just over 10 minutes.
White went 1-for-4, committed three of his seven turnovers and was a minus-11 in plus/minus in his 8½ minutes in the fourth quarter.
“I’ve got to be better,” White said several times afterward.
It was self-reflection, but also an indication of just how far White has come this season, going from supporting actor to a lead role in the success of this organization on a nightly basis.
“I think it was a really good learning experience for him,” Donovan said. “He’s been so great. He didn’t really have it [Monday], and I don’t mean that to be critical of him. He just didn’t really have it going. I think he was trying to take it upon himself to step up, he’s got that kind of will and competitiveness, but it’s one of those things as the point guard right now where, ‘OK, we’re up one, let’s manage this thing right now. Let’s make sure we’re getting into our stuff, we’ve got good spacing.’ ”
White was by no means the only culprit in the meltdown. Donovan was quick to point that out several times.
But Donovan also knows that White wants to be coached hard and hear the truth. All-Star caliber players are built like that.
Not only has White played in all 42 games this season, but he’s averaging 18.5 points, 4.9 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game while shooting 40.2% from three-point range.
“He’s been so elite and so great,” Donovan said. “This is one of these games where he was just trying to grind it. He was competing. It’s something he can learn from. Kind of talking to him about since Day 1 — how do you impact a game? How do you impact winning? Shots are not falling, not getting to the rim. This was a game where I thought he could have slowed it, managed it a little bit. It will be a good opportunity for him.”
It’s one that White already was embracing.
“I can’t have seven turnovers,” he said. “I’ve got to [be] better [at] managing the game. But it’s all a learning experience. That’s what I’m here for. This is what you love, the adversity, the ups and downs.
“These are the moments you want as a basketball player. I think for me it’s a good learning experience. Can’t dwell on it, gotta move on, but for me learn from it, and the next time that situation comes, take another step forward. Keep my head high and keep pushing.”
