As his shooting struggles continue, Coby White finds other ways to help the Chicago Bulls win

Coby has hit a rough patch

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Coby White’s shooting slump continued on Wednesday as he made only five of his 20 attempts, including going 2-for-13 from beyond the arc in the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. White has struggled to find the mark in the four games after the All-Star break, shooting a dreadful 26 percent from the field and an abysmal 22 percent from three-point range.

Roy Williams couldn’t provide the cure

Roy Williams, White’s former coach at North Carolina, even paid the rising star a visit to try and give the young man a spark, but to no avail. The last time Williams was in the United Center, White showed off for his former college coach, draining seven triples in the fourth. However, on Wednesday, he couldn’t summon the magic from that night.

However, White didn’t let his misfires dictate the rest of his game, as he narrowly missed out on a triple-double, compiling 14 points, 12 assists, and eight rebounds. He also played tough defense on Cavs star Donovan Mitchell, cutting off his driving lane on what could have been the game-winning possession for Cleveland. Instead of getting a layup, Mitchell settled for a contested jumper that missed.

Credit to Coby White for cutting the ball off here against Donovan Mitchell driving

Turned potential dribble-penetration into a tough 2

We are going to 2OT pic.twitter.com/OzRgjhBYyd

— Jackson Lloyd (@JacksonLloydNBA) February 29, 2024

Has to strike a balance between preparation and rest

According to Bulls coach Billy Donovan, striking a balance between preparation and rest could help White regain his shot late this season. As the season progressed, White saw more playing time and responsibility as a point guard due to injuries on the team. This increased workload may have affected his shot-making ability.

White is still relatively young in the league, having just finished his second season with the Bulls. Learning how to manage his body and stay fresh throughout a long NBA season will be crucial for him going forward. Donovan believes that finding the right balance of practice and rest will help White improve his shooting and prevent fatigue and potential injuries.

“You don’t want to lose that perspective, but there’s a point of how efficiently you can work with the time you have and developing the routine. And we’ve talked to him a lot about it where, ‘Listen, coming in the gym and driving yourself into the ground is not always the solution or the answer,’” Donovan shared.

“These are all things he’s going through in trying to figure out his routine. Because I think it’s really hard for a player that has worked his way to this level and then has started to have some success, then has moved himself into a different level than he was two years ago. You have to change. It’s not so much he’s got to change his game, but he’s got to change — not necessarily the routine but how much rest, how much work.”

Coby with the blow-by ✌️@NBCSChicago | @CobyWhite pic.twitter.com/8ZTWRAdLTp

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 29, 2024

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