Chicago Bulls: Jim Boylen still playing dumb with Coby White

Chicago Bulls head coach Jim Boylen continues to play the fool when it comes to rising rookie Coby White. When will the madness end?

As a Chicago Bulls fan, it should pain you to check in on some of the latest starting lineups deployed by head coach Jim Boylen. To be frank, they have been laughable.

In a season filled with a plethora of injuries, Boylen has yet to take the hint from fans — a bunch of highly annoyed, angry and sickened fans.

Over the last few weeks, guys like Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine have been missing from the lineup; lately both at the same time. Dunn is now out for the season, unfortunately. But, Boylen still has an effective weapon at his disposal.

Coming off the bench all season long, rookie guard Coby White has had his moments. He began the season impressing quite a bit, only to cool off a little. But, since the All Star Break, White has been on fire.

Over his last 10 games, White is averaging an impressive 22.6 points, 4.0 assists, 3.8 rebounds and over a steal per contest. He’s doing this all on 46 percent from the field overall, and a blistering 39 percent from long distance.

Even with the injuries plaguing the team, Boylen has run out starting lineups featuring the likes of Tomas Satoransky, Denzel Valentine and Shaquille Harrison.

Yep, you got that right. White is still coming off the bench. Up to this point, reporters have hounded Boylen with questions after each night we see White light it up.

“When will Coby start?”

Every night, Boylen has given the same annoyed, firm answer, re-establishing the fact that he likes White coming off the bench. Finally, though, it seems he may have had a change of heart.

Sure, hearing Boylen change his tune is nice and all. But, he’s been playing dumb for far too long now.

Or, has he?

Is Boylen really that incompetent that he can’t see how talented this kid is? White is putting on clinics night in and night out. He’s showing the league that he deserved to be the no. 7 overall selection — if not a bit higher than that.

White is creating offense for himself and others every single game, putting defenders on skates multiple times each night. Yet, still, Boylen has kept his same song and dance.

If John Paxson is still in charge this summer (which is the current report) we are all in for more of the same. He even expressed his confidence in Boylen recently — again — which should have all of us ready to pull our hair out.

Boylen doesn’t know talent. He doesn’t know development. He doesn’t know basketball. This has to change.