The game tonight against the Chicago Bulls is the start of a tough six-game road trip and will serve as a litmus test for Toronto Raptors.
The game tonight against the Chicago Bulls should be the start of a tough six-game road trip and will serve as a litmus test for Toronto Raptors.
Should is the key modifier.
The reason this game might turn into a laugher for Toronto is the Chicago Bulls have been hit hard with the injury and flu bug.
Pau Gasol is day-to-day while battling a chest injury and may turn into a game time decision. The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Gasol will try to play on Monday.
Another key cog for the Bulls, Derrick Rose, is battling the flu and might skip this game, too.
“I’m feeling a lot better,” Rose told the Chicago Tribune on Sunday. “I’m getting my energy back. Was fatigued the last couple days. Just trying to fight off this little sickness that I have. I ran through a couple plays, shot before practice a little bit. Trying not to overdo it and make sure I get some energy.”
Rose is playing well this month as he’s averaging 17.7 points, 5.9 dimes and 3.6 rebounds in seven games. His quickness and killer first step has the potential to give Kyle Lowry fits all game.
Taj Gibson is battling through a problem with his right ankle but went through a full practice on Sunday and told the media he’s ready to play Monday.
Joakim Noah is currently battling through issues with his right ankle as well and is going to try to suit up against Toronto.
The only starter that is healthy for the Bulls is Jimmy Butler who is quietly having an all-star season. He’s averaging more than 40 minutes per game while scoring 21.9 points and playing lockdown defence against opponents top scorers.
Butler scored 31 points against the Memphis Grizzlies and 35 against the New York Knicks.
Last night Dwane Casey raved about Butler’s growth and development.
With Gasol, Noah and Gibson sidelined, rookie Nikola Mirotic is playing some inspired basketball. He scored a career-high 27 points against Memphis in Chicago’s last game.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/ct-bulls-nikola-mirotic-improving-spt-1222-20141221-story.html
Despite all of these injury woes the Bulls still have a 17-9 record and will pose a challenge for the Raptors tonight.
Possible Impact Players:
Nikola Mirotic: Don’t let his pedestrian 8.1 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game trick you; he’s doing that playing limited minutes behind Joakim Noah, Pau Gasol and Taj Gibson. With those three players banged up, Mirotic exploded for a career-high 27 points against the Memphis Grizzlies. He also grabbed eight rebounds and blocked a shot. He’s averaging 11.0 points per game in 21.7 minutes per game so far this month. Also worth noting is that despite limited minutes this season (18.7), he has a PER of 17.78. In his only other game against Toronto this season, he only played four minutes and failed to score. With Chicago’s injury issues and his recent boost in playing time and confidence you can bet on him making a big impact on this game.
Aaron Brooks: He’s another player to step up with Chicago’s recent rash of injuries. He scored 17 points against Memphis and 18 points in 25 minutes against New York. He’s a great third guard and scoring spark off the bench for the Bulls if Derrick Rose and Kirk Hinrich are healthy.
Pau Gasol: Gasol absolutely ate Toronto alive in their first meeting this season. He went off for 27 points and 11 boards, but his stats could have been even more gaudy if Chicago needed it to be. He had Jonas Valanciunas biting on every pump-fake and he dished out two dimes but Chicago did a great job of running their offence out of him in the post. Looking at the stats I’m shocked he only got credit for two assists as he did a great job finding open teammates all game.
Greivis Vasquez: He broke out of his shooting slump in a big way against the Knicks going 9-13 from the field while scoring 21 points and dishing out five dimes and grabbing four rebounds. Despite the great game against the Knicks he’s still only shooting 38% from the field this month. It will be interesting to see what he can do against a traditionally stingy Chicago defence. He only played 14 points against Chicago the last time these two teams met and finished with seven points.
Kyle Lowry: Lowry ripped the Bulls for 20 points, eight dimes and eight boards the last time these two teams met. But that was with DeMar DeRozan. It will be interesting to see how Lowry attacks an aggressive Bulls defence without his partner in crime. Recently he’s done a great job sharing the rock and it will be imperative for him to continue to swing the ball to open teammates tonight.
Patrick Patterson: He’s the kind of “stretch” four that Chicago’s bruising bigs might have trouble guarding. Taj Gibson would normally get the assignment, but he’s struggling through an injury to his right ankle so his mobility might be limited. Patterson is shooting 57% from the field over his last ten games so it’s possible Toronto might be able to ride his hot hand with Chicago’s defenders having issues guarding him on the perimeter or off the dribble.
