Billy Donovan says the Chicago Bulls will go out and do their jobs regardless of the circumstances

"I'm not a big believer in making excuses."

© Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Things haven’t gone the Chicago Bulls’ way this season. Although Chicago has turned things around after a horrendous 5-14 start and sits in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls have been bitten by the injury bug lately, losing several core players for extended periods due to various maladies.

Despite the challenges, head coach Billy Donovan remains steadfast in his belief that his team will continue to push forward and do their jobs, no matter the circumstances.

No excuses

The Bulls will no longer have Zach LaVine active for the rest of the season after the two-time All-Star elected to undergo surgery to repair his injured foot. The team’s also missing young forward Patrick Williams, Dalen Terry, and, from the look of things, will also Torrey Craig, who suffered a sprained ankle on Tuesday night.

Add to that the cloud of uncertainty hanging over the franchise as the trade deadline approaches, and it's easy to see why some may be counting the Bulls out. But Donovan is not one of those people. 

He knows that injuries are a part of the game, and every team faces them at some point in the season. Rather than dwell on what they don't have, he wants his team to focus on what they do have — a strong foundation and a resilient mindset.

“I’m not a big believer in making excuses,” Donovan said.

“Our team and what we’ve had to deal with this year is what it is. We’ve had bodies to go out there and play, and you expect guys to go out there and step up. I feel like we’re playing better, but the results are what they are, and those results are going to dictate where you are at the end of the year.”

Coby White and DeMar DeRozan came up big in the Bulls victory tonight 😤

White: 33 PTS (21 in 4th), 5 REB, 7 AST
DeRozan: 33 PTS, 5 AST, 4 STL pic.twitter.com/LrH7zCoRz4

— NBA (@NBA) February 7, 2024

Team still focused on the season at hand

With so many things threatening to derail the Bulls, Donovan shared he’s seeing some positive signs from his team. Despite the challenges they have faced, they are still fully focused on their current season. 

Coby White has continued his meteoric rise in the league, as evidenced by his 33-point outburst against the team with the best defense in the league—the Minnesota Timberwolves—on Tuesday.

“The majority of the league, that’s what they’re fighting for, those margins of consistency,” Donovan said.

COBY FROM HUNTLEY.@NBCSChicago | @CobyWhite pic.twitter.com/EPR5etEPo6

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 7, 2024

“Generally, those margins are going to impact winning and losing, and I totally get that. It’s a results-oriented business at the end of the day.”

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