Chicago Bulls: October Schedule breakdown

Usually, when a team starts a season, they prefer the first game to be at home. Everybody knows that it will not always be the case, but at least the team would prefer the first game be in the United States. When the Bulls first tip off next Thursday, the team will be all the way up in Canada at the Air United Center, home of rapper Drake. Not literally, but he does pretty much own the stadium as he can do whatever he wants.

This first game will be a test for Fred Hoiberg, as 2 eventual starters on the team will be missing with injuries. Kris Dunn, who recently injured his finger will be out 2-4 weeks, and Zach Lavine, all world dunker who will be out until at least late December at the earliest with a torn ACL. K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, reported that unless any major injury happens in the final preseason games the Bulls starting lineup will be Jerian Grant, Justin Holiday, Paul Zipser, Nikola Mirotic, and Robin Lopez.

This game will likely not bode well for the Bulls, as the Raptors have two potential all stars in Kyle Lowry and DeMar Derozan. Pitting Holiday and Grant up against them is less than ideal. To combat these deadly scorers, Hoiberg will likely have to get creative. Which could include sticking Denzel Valentine on Derozan if things get out of hand. Unless his plan will be to let those two score at will and just guard everyone else, who knows, it could work.

Final Score Prediction: Toronto 108 – Chicago 94

Scoring Leaders: Nikola Mirotic: 19, DeMar Derozan: 23

Assist Leaders: Jerian Grant: 5, Kyle Lowry, 9

Rebound Leaders: Serge Ibaka: 12, Robin Lopez, 10