Chicago Bulls: 3 starters who struggled mightily on defense this season

Coby White, PG

The Bulls are going to see the second-year former North Carolina Tar Heels point guard Coby White get back into the starting five for the first time in more than one month in their April 16 meeting at home with the Grizzlies. There’s not really any other way to put it than just stating that White has not played well for Donovan and the Bulls post-All-Star Break.

At least when he was healthy since the All-Star Break let out last month, White was not the best player on either end of the floor for this team. This 6-foot-5 and 200 pound 21-year-old North Carolina native is playing some of his worst basketball on the defensive end of the floor of his still young NBA career in the last few weeks.

At this point of the season, White is down to averaging 0.5 steals per game and 0.2 blocks. He didn’t have many blocks during his rookie season or this year, but his steals are nearly cut in half compared to last season. He’s often getting caught chasing down opposing guards to no avail on the perimeter and fouling opposing three-point shooters.

Across the board, the advanced metrics don’t look too great for White’s defensive play this season. He is pretty much at the bottom of the team in defensive box plus/minus rating at a tragic -3.9, and with a 115 defensive rating. Somehow, though, White has mustered one defensive win share this season.