© Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Billy Donovan says the Chicago Bulls' easy schedule down the stretch doesn't matter: "We have to play well"
Nothing has gone right for the Chicago Bulls this season. The team got off to a horrendous 5-14 start but bounced back, thanks to young guard Coby White's breakout season. Unfortunately, All-Star guard Zach LaVine and promising forward Patrick Williams suffered season-ending injuries, while White incurred a mild hip strain that has kept him out of the Bulls’ last game.
However, one thing the Bulls have going for them late in the season is a relatively easy schedule. But head coach Billy Donovan says that doesn't matter if the team doesn't play well.
Focus on playing well
Donovan explained that the Bulls must focus on what they can do rather than who they are playing against. He believes the team needs to continue improving and playing well to win games and build momentum heading to the Play-In Tournament.
“I’ve talked about this: We have to play well. Obviously, we’re giving some other guys an opportunity to play that haven’t had that opportunity in the past with what we’ve had to deal with,” Donovan said, referring to some young guys like Onuralp Bitim and Henry Drell entering the rotation due to their lack of players.
‘‘For us, I don’t necessarily look at who we’re playing and what their record is as much as I think we have to look at the fact that we’ve got to play well. That’s going to be the important part for us.”
No excuses
Despite all the Bulls’ struggles with player injuries and lack of moves from the front office, Donovan emphasized the importance of not making excuses and instead focusing on performing at their best in every game.
“I don’t think any of us, certainly including the players, have made any excuses,” Donovan added.
“I do believe there is enough in the locker room. We have to play well no matter who it is. We went to Miami and won. [This team has] been very competitive. I know the record doesn’t say that. Sometimes, the records with some teams can be a little misleading because a lot of times the net rating, the margin of loss by them, it’s only a possession or two with some of these teams. For us, we don’t have a wide margin.”
