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Coby White says getting the ball to DeMar DeRozan down the stretch was the right call

"He carried us in the fourth quarter."
Nick Raguz|
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Chicago Bulls

Fifth-year pro Coby White is having a sensational season. After going through ups and downs in his first four seasons, the former Tar Heel has finally taken the leap, averaging 19.3 points and 5.7 assists per game. However, as superb as White has been, even showing his mettle in several crunchtime moments, he recently acknowledged where the ball should go when the game is on the line: DeMar DeRozan.

Get the ball to DeMar

There has been some debate lately among Bulls fans about who the Bulls should go to when the game hangs in the balance. DeRozan, a 15-year veteran who has built a reputation for being one of the league’s best closers, has been missing his fair share of shots in crunchtime, leading some to question his clutchness.

 However, White clarified that he fully believes in DeRozan and that the team should always look to get him the ball in late-game situations. This was evident in the Bulls’ last game against the Orlando Magic. Although the Bulls lost in overtime, DeRozan’s shotmaking helped the team force overtime.

“DeMar had it going, especially in the second half,” White said.

The hot hand

White struggled to find the mark in that game, going 5-of-21 from the field for only 14 points. Fortunately for the Bulls, Deebo had it going as he went for 28 points, including an and-one that tied the game at 101-all. DeRozan also had a shot at winning the game late in regulation but missed a triple before time expired. Despite that, White shared he wouldn’t hesitate to pass the ball to DeRozan again in those situations.

“For me, it was getting the ball to DeMar. He carried us in the fourth quarter. For me, he had the hot hand, he was playmaking, he was getting to his spots; he was making the right reads. Whoever got it going we are trying to win the game,” White said.

Coby White is eager to move past the loss to the Orlando Magic

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Nick Raguz
NICK RAGUZ

Nick's journey has been an exciting fusion of basketball and the written word. A former basketball player himself, he possesses an insatiable appetite for all things NBA-related, spanning from the captivating tales of old-school NBA to intriguing statistics and the latest updates from the association.

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