Raptors at Chicago Bulls – we’re finally playing again!
By Brian Boake
The Raptors get back to business in Chicago, against a team which has owned them recently.
The Toronto Raptors end their six-game road trip in the Windy City with a tilt against the dispirited Bulls. Chicago was flying high a few short weeks ago, but has been damaged by injuries. As a result, they are tumbling down the standings, and will need to turn things around in a hurry. Otherwise, a campaign which started with such promise may end with Chicago outside the playoffs for the first time since the 2007-08 season.
A glance at their starters offers a view on their problems. Mike Dunleavy makes his second start of the year after a lengthy recovery from back surgery. I wish we had a bruising power forward who could punish him on the low block. E’twaun Moore is at shooting guard, but he wouldn’t be had Jimmy Butler not done serious damage to his knee. Taj Gibson usually comes off the bench, but he’ll be starting at power forward. Nikola Mirotic has suffered complications in his recovery from appendicitis, and his return date is unknown. Joakim Noah may never play in a Bulls uniform again, according to reports. He’s been injured for some time, and the Bulls have been looking for a new home for him almost as long.
Derrick Rose’s career has been a succession of injuries, and he doesn’t approach the form which brought him the 2010-11 MVP award. He’s still a capable scorer and passer from the point guard spot. Pau Gasol, the object of much trade speculation, remains the Bulls’ starting centre. He’s like Tim Duncan; a heady player who takes what he’s given on offense, and gums up opposing offenses with positioning. Both these guys could give courses in aging gracefully.
The Bulls’ bench lost Kirk Hinrich, who was moved to Atlanta this week. Their best man is power forward Bobby Portis, who’s a rookie but isn’t playing like one. If the Bulls are blown up this summer, which I’d view as probable, Portis will have a much greater role next season. Doug McDermott has wiped out some of the disappointment of his first season, in which his shooting, the skill for which he was drafted in the lottery, was largely absent. He’s above 41% from deep this year. Tony Snell and Aaron Brooks have both enjoyed big games against the Raptors, but have struggled with consistency.
The Raptors have all the motivation in the world to slap the Bulls into next week, having gone winless against Chicago in their last seven meetings. Toronto will win easily if they…:
- …open up the paint to our guards. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan can attack the Bulls with relative ease, and if Jonas Valanciunas and Luis Scola keep their men pinned, routes to the bucket will be there.
- …keep the Bulls on the perimeter. Pau has the length and skills to score over JV, whereas Moore and Rose can’t do much harm from deep. Dunleavy can be a problem, but he’s still finding his sea legs. The Bulls rank 24th in 3-balls attempted, indicating a team which isn’t comfortable in the “new” NBA.
- …don’t get hurt by the Bulls’ second unit. Our first team should be able to handle theirs. As long as Portis and Brooks can be held at bay by Terrence Ross, Patrick Patterson et al, we’ll be fine.
No excuses, guys. The Bulls were beaten in Cleveland last night, and have won only five of their past 19 matches. Toronto 104-Chicago 90.