LOS ANGELES - Coby White has to find the counter to the counter.

First priority is getting healthy, and then he can chase down priority No. 2.

White's been dealing with a bum right ankle and was pulled in the game against the Trail Blazers on Sunday night by Billy Donovan.

"He didn't ask to come out, I took him out," the coach said on Monday. "I did not get a timeline on it. It didn't sound like it would be anything too severe, but I don't know about the rest of the trip."

But even when White does return from the setback, there's some growth he can take in his game that will not only benefit the Bulls but possibly move White closer to All-Star status.

According to Donovan, White is no longer sneaking up on anyone. He's high on the scouting report, and he's getting bigger and better defenders thrown at him than he was last year when he broke out.

Definitely a nice show of respect but also one that White needs to have a response to. In Donovan's estimation that starts when White continues understanding life without the ball in his hands.

Last season, he was considered the primary point guard. This season, Josh Giddey was brought in for those duties, while White also has to share the ball-handling and play-making with a healthy Zach LaVine.

"I think last year for him, the stamina and endurance, what we talked about was on him physically, he learned a lot from that," Donovan said, discussing White's evolution. "The next thing is because he's a guy that's been targeted - he's up on most team's scouting board on what they're going to do in terms of defending him - I think he's got to do more off the ball, and what I mean by that is it's not necessarily that the ball doesn't need to be in his hands, I don't mean that. When he's off the ball and there's actions taking place, drives taking place, moving into windows and open areas, because where he's been really elite is causing closeouts and I think there's opportunities for him to create more of that.

"Sometimes when the ball is in your hands like it is, he's seeing a lot more crowds, he's seeing bigger defenders on him. It's probably not as easy for him to get into the paint where he's got a live stationary dribble, everyone is looking at him."

White's numbers are all down a tick from last season, but with all the guards Donovan has been playing, as well as less minutes because of that, it was expected.

He's been better defensively, so that's an improvement that Donovan can embrace.

Now, it's about understanding the spacing for life as an off-guard, which could be White's immediate future if he stays a Bull. Giddey is a restricted free agent and every sign from the front office has been they are committed to re-signing him.

That means White might want to not only get used to life off the ball, but perfect it.

"When the ball is in his hands and then it comes out of his hands, what can he do to get himself re-engaged back into it," Donovan said. "I think that's a real area of growth for him, and he's aware of it. He's gotten better at it, but I do think there's a lot more to be gained for him in terms of what he's facing defensively."

Ayo Dosunmu missed 10 games with a strained right calf, and while the Bulls insisted he did not re-injure the leg, he was held out of the game with the Clippers because of soreness.

"He is experiencing some soreness, some tightness after I think the density of games, so they're just going to be overly cautious because that's something he's been dealing with," Donovan said.