Transition game: Run-or-done Bulls won’t have White for season opener

The general plan for the Bulls was to turn last season's strong finish into a fast start and go from there.

That task is getting more difficult by the day. The team announced Monday that Coby White will miss at least two more weeks while recovering from a calf strain. Two days earlier, they lost forward Zach Collins for at least a month with a left wrist fracture.

“It's two big losses, quite honestly,” coach Billy Donovan said Monday at the Advocate Center. “You always want to get off to a good start during the year. Other guys are going to have to step up and play. It is what it is.”

White is the Bulls' top returning scorer from last season. Collins was the fifth-leading scorer in preseason and would have been a rotation regular.

Five of the first seven games are at home, beginning with Wednesday's season opener against Detroit. But can a short-handed Bulls squad avoid a miserable start?

Donovan thinks the key is sticking to their identity of playing fast, which necessitates utilizing a deep rotation. There's even slogan to go along with it.

“I said this last year: If we don't run, we're done,” Donovan said. “That's definitely the case this year.”

The Bulls arguably still have potential star power with second-year forward Matas Buzelis, who showed a nice burst of confidence in preseason; and Josh Giddey, who delivered eye-popping stats after Zach Lavine was traded last February.

They have pace pushers in Ayo Dosunmu and Tre Jones. The big men are basically limited to Nikola Vucevic and Jalen Smith, but there's still plenty of depth.

Isaac Okoro was brought in from Cleveland to add defense and physicality. If he's recovered from last week's knee soreness, he'll be a rotation mainstay. Donovan can fill in with Kevin Huerter, Patrick Williams, Julian Phillips, Dalen Terry and maybe rookie Noa Essengue, while veteran guard Jevon Carter was by far the best 3-point shooter in preseason.

“I think our offense is best when it's out in transition,” Giddey said. “We've got confidence in everybody in this locker room, so guys will be ready to step up.”

White suffered the calf injury in September and didn't play at all in preseason. His first full-contact practice was Saturday and that seemed to go well, but the medical staff just feels he needs more time to fully recover.

“It wasn't a setback,” Donovan said. “I think coming out of that practice, he felt tightness again. He won't be shut down where it's like he's in a boot. There's none of that. They've got to get back in the weight room and continue to strengthen it.”

After a quick trip to Orlando this Saturday, the Bulls have three straight at home next week, against Atlanta, Sacramento and New York. Then November brings 10 of 14 dates on the road.

These next few weeks could be a time for Buzelis, Giddey and others to shine. Or the Bulls might be hoping for swift healing before Thanksgiving.