Previewing the Bulls vs Raptors Play-In Game

The 9th seeded Raptors are set to host the 10th seeded Bulls in an elimination game that has any playoff aspirations on the line.

In the second set of games for the NBA Play-In tournament, we see the Bulls facing off against the Raptors at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. With both teams riding similar form by the end of the regular season, with Chicago recording one more win than the Raptors since the All-Star Break, it is bound to be a high-intensity matchup.

Though persisting injuries to the roster have left the Bulls in poor shape coming into the 2023 Playoffs, it seems that many forget the level of play that they can achieve when all healthy. With Lonzo Ball remaining out for the foreseeable future, the offensive load is once again put on the shoulders of DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine. This has proven doable for the backcourt duo as they have exited the regular season going 9-6 in their last 15, a winning percentage that is 11.5% better than their overall season’s.

The Raptors have seen similar success as of late, holding the same record as the Bulls over the same stretch. The big difference here is in the jump in offense for the Canadian team. Having averaged a league-wide 25th 112.9ppg, they are coming out of the last 15 games of the season having averaged 114.9 points. Regardless, it will very likely come down to the ways that their backcourt can supplement All-Star 4-spot Pascal Siakam that will give them the offense to get a win.

Having gone 2-2 against each other in the regular season, it is surprising to some that the Raptors are such heavy favorites coming into the Play-In game. As far as key matchups go, the Bulls have the defensively capable Patrick Williams, who in many ways is a good matchup for Siakam: strong, fast, agile, and long. As far as the backcourt goes, Gary Trent Jr. has a tall task in guarding Zach LaVine, whereas DeMar DeRozan will likely face a high-intensity defender in OG Anunoby.

All things considered, I foresee this game being far closer than what most odd-makers are setting this out to be. Though the Raptors are overall more sound defensively, it feels like with the right switches, the Bulls could be able to expose Fred VanVleet on that side of the ball.