"The Raptors remain shaky. Last night, they blew a huge lead to the Timberwolves at Scotiabank Arena. They followed their typical script in their textbook loss, struggling to put the ball in the net in the fourth quarter. Tonight, the Raptors face an easier opponent whose roster has gone through tons of changes ahead of the trade deadline (with perhaps even more to come)."
"Compared to the Bulls, little has changed roster-wise for the Raptors. CP3 is technically a Raptor for now, but will likely be moved by the 3 pm deadline. Ochai Agbaji is gone, which means less of a safety net for Ja'Kobe Walter and Gradey Dick. Trayce Jackson-Davis is on the way to provide some front court help, but won't be suiting up tonight."
"With the Bulls roster being overhauled, who are now 1-3 on the road, the Raptors are the clear favourites. But this won't mean an easy win. Amid changes and uncertainty, Darko Rajakovic experimented with lineups last night. He put CMB on with four other bench players to end the first quarter. He played Barnes and BI together to end the third, and neither of them in the fourth until subbing both back on with seven minutes left."
The Raptors continue to show inconsistency, recently blowing a large lead and struggling to score in fourth quarters. The team sits 30-22 with a modest net rating, ranking mid-to-lower offensively but strong defensively. The Bulls are undergoing significant roster overhaul ahead of the trade deadline and are currently 24-27 with a negative net rating. Toronto's lineup usage has been experimental, with coach Darko Rajakovic rotating bench groupings and mixing starters late. The upcoming game against the Bulls is seen as a tune-up before a pivotal matchup with the Detroit Pistons and the All-Star break schedule.
Read at Raptors Republic
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