Gonzales: For the Bulls, it's about getting back in rhythm

So much for normalcy.

Billy Donovan quickly understands the challenges of trying to return the Bulls to NBA prominence, and not just without prized 2020 first-round pick Patrick Williams for the balance of the regular season.

The momentum the Bulls have built in the first two months of the 2021-22 season have been stunted by numerous positive COVID-19 tests that have resulted in the postponement of three games. Wednesday night's game was postponed because the Toronto Raptors didn't have the required eight players available.

The Bulls, like several NBA teams, are trying to navigate through at least the holiday season despite many players placed in the league's health and safety protocols that have impacted practice time as well as games.

If there are any kernels of optimism during this ominous time, reserves such as 2019 first-round pick Coby White and Chicago native Alfonzo McKinnie recently have made the most of their playing time while several of their teammates remain in protocols.

But it remains tough for everyone to get in a rhythm, which is somewhat difficult for a Bulls team that has energized a once-disenchanted fan base with the Eastern Conference's second-best record (19-10).

"Last year we dealt with the condensed schedule, a shortened training camp, getting Patrick up to speed with no Summer League for him," Donovan said Monday, in reference to Williams out due to a ligament tear in his left wrist.

The expectation was that normalcy returned last season with teams no longer placed in a "bubble" in Orlando, conducting a normal training camp leading up to no interruptions during the first 7½ weeks of the regular season.

"And then it hits again," said Donovan, who entered COVID protocol Friday and could miss several games. "When you're expecting it's not going to be like that anymore, that's the hard part."

The past week already has mirrored Donovan's concerns. DeMar DeRozan, one of 10 players who was in the health and safety protocols, returned Dec. 19 with a 38-point effort in 34 minutes to hold off the Lakers.

White, playing catch-up from off-season shoulder surgery and a stint on the health and safety protocols, stepped up admirably after Alex Caruso suffered a left ankle injury midway through the fourth quarter to score 24 points in Monday's cozy victory over the Houston Rockets.

And McKinnie, who grew up 15 minutes west of the United Center, validated the Bulls' decision to sign him to a second 10-day contract by chipping in with 16 points and five rebounds against the Rockets.

But the Bulls must wait at least until Sunday night to regain the momentum, followed by their sixth back-to-back game at Atlanta.

Donovan has tried to be careful about dispersing the minutes, especially for players like DeRozan who played 34 minutes in his return and 32 the following night.

"You're going to have the flow and rhythm that teams have built up broken apart a bit and starting over," Donovan said. "The one thing people maybe don't underhand with all this is when you take a player out for 12 days or two weeks, I've always said it's a lot harder when a player comes back than when a player goes out.

"When you got a good player coming back, a lot of times they're not where they were before they went out. And it takes time to get that back. It takes time to get a rhythm."

Nevertheless, Donovan marveled over DeRozan's high-level performance against the Lakers, and Monday's large lead allowed DeRozan to rest for much of the fourth quarter.

At the same time, it may be essential for the reserves to contribute as much as they did with 66 points against the Rockets until the Bulls are close to returning to full strength.

"These situations can't define you, but you got to find a way that when you get through it, you're better because of it," Donovan said. "And that's the challenge."

• Twitter: @MDGonzales