Bulls coach Billy Donovan is from the school of tough love. He showed that Monday against the Nuggets.
While it seemed as though Donovan was making rookie Matas Buzelis earn his minutes and giving struggling forward Patrick Williams a long leash, Donovan addressed things with words and actions.
Not only was Williams pulled from the starting lineup after another poor performance Saturday, but he wasn’t even the first player off the Bulls’ bench. No, those sixth-man duties went to Buzelis.
Donovan often has been asked about why he has had a quicker hook for Buzelis at times than for Williams, especially when the results for both haven’t been anything to write home about. He said it was a fair question.
‘‘I think there’s times I come in here with [the media], and you ask, ‘Why are Patrick’s minutes being reduced?’ or, ‘Why has Patrick not closed or [guard] Josh Giddey has not closed?’ ’’ Donovan said. ‘‘Sometimes in the moment there, you’re trying to make a decision that’s best for the team in terms of selection of players. I don’t always get it right, but I’m trying to from my gut on how a guy is playing or how the game is going. But I don’t think you’re off-base by that.
‘‘I think there have been some games that Patrick hasn’t played [normal minutes], and people ask me, ‘Well, why hasn’t he played?’ Maybe another group has played better. It’s certainly a fair question and a very accurate one. There are some times when you get a matchup, like let’s say [the Warriors’ Andrew] Wiggins or even with [the Nuggets’] Aaron Gordon, you’d say, ‘Patrick is probably a better matchup for those guys.’ ’’
That was definitely the case against the Warriors last week, when Wiggins took Buzelis apart, going at him every time during one stint.
Donovan had to get Buzelis out of there after a bit to make sure his confidence wasn’t damaged. That’s the tightrope he has been walking.
‘‘Sometimes I’m taking that into consideration, too, because when you have Matas, a young player, or even Julian [Phillips] or Dalen [Terry], you want them to go in and play well,’’ Donovan said. ‘‘Now, I don’t necessarily believe we’ve got to hide all these young guys. What happened to Matas in Golden State, Wiggins was great. He needed to go through that because he’s going to have to guard his position.’’
White still out
Guard Coby White has been dealing with a bone bruise in his right ankle for more than a week. And while it’s unlikely he’ll play Wednesday against the Celtics, Donovan said he has made progress in the last few days.
‘‘He’s started doing some running, [so] I think he’s feeling better,’’ Donovan said. ‘‘A few days ago, I think he was having a little bit of pain there, but that’s kind of subsided. He still has some things he has to do in terms of more movement, but [he’s] certainly closer to playing.’’
Baby talk
Donovan said guard Zach LaVine will be out for the start of the three-city road trip for personal reasons. LaVine, however, let the cat out of the bag, telling teammates in the locker room his third child is on the way.
His wife, Hunter, also posted the news on her social-media account.