Chicago Bulls vs Toronto Raptors: Raptors are plagued by COVID-19

This game signifies the impact of COVID-19 on the NBA world. Bulls are missing their bunch of players while Raptors have all their starters in the COVID-19 protocols along with some reserves too. The trouble for the team will be finding enough players to get ready for the game. Even back-up Center Khem Birch is questionable and the team is running thin and out of players. The Bulls got their starters DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, and Nikola Vucevic back and they have looked in wonderful touch in the last two games. And even a healthy Raptors roster can have trouble keeping them away from winning. Who will Raptors sign or will this game see a postponement? We never know so here is a brief look at what is at hand for both teams.

Chicago Bulls

With DeRozan, Vucevic, and Ball back in the mix, Chicago scored over 130 against the Rockets and 115 against the Lakers. Coby White also has made significant contributions which is not a surprise since he was the starting point guard last season. But the key is iso scorer DeMar DeRozan, who has banged in 38 points against the Lakers and shot brillaintly against the Rockets. When he is on the floor, he will keep all the defenders busy, opening up shooting, driving, and passing lanes for his teammates. Lonzo can hit open shots and contested ones too while Vucevic has a bunch of moves in the middle. If three of your players can score 20 or so and someone like DeRozan can get up to 30, you can cause a lot of damage to the psyche of the opponents. Bulls are deep this season and when they are fully healthy, watch out for them!

Toronto Raptors

At the time of writing this piece, Gary Trent Jr., Fred Van Vleet, Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes have been listed in the protocols, these are the four regular starters! On the other hand, bench players Precious Achiuwa who plays regular minutes is also out while Banton, Champaigne and Flynn remain out with Khem Birch being questionable for this tilt. Who is available? OG Anunoby, Svi Mykhailiuk, Yuta Watanabe and Chris Boucher only so far which means Raptors will have to sign a replacement player. With the current lineup, only OG is a consistent iso scorer while Boucher can play both ways but has been limited in terms of impact these days. So, unless Raptors devise some plans to sign some solid 10-day deals player they will be at a huge disadvantage.

Points Range: With the way DeRozan and co. have been scoring, the Chicago Bulls look like they will reach 110 with ease. They still have two great playmakers, four iso scorers, three sturdy perimeter shooters, disciplined defenders, and rebounders. The Bulls can give a lot of trouble to the Raptors even when they are healthy and they will be tough to reckon with here as well. Unless some other players clear protocols, I don’t know where Raptors will find their offense and I am concerned if they can get to even 100. The Points Range here seems to be 214-225.

Prediction: Bulls have a significant advantage here. If their four main guns in White, DeRozan, Vucevic, and Ball are healthy, the game is 90% in their grasp because the Raptors are running thin. I think OG Anunoby will have the Bulls defense clasp on him and that can be trouble for Toronto. I take the Bulls to win here with a scoreline of 121:97.

• Handicap: 2 -10.5 for 2.12;
• Chicago Bulls: Total Points: Over 111.5 for 1.85;
• Team Props: TOR Raptors Under 102.5 for 1.83.