NBA PLAYOFFS: Raptors vs. Chicago Bulls play-in will be short on offence, but deep in drama

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On paper, there’s nothing compelling or even remotely interesting about Wednesday’s play-in tip pitting the Bulls and Raptors.

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Two teams that can’t shoot, that failed to post a winning record in the regular season, one team that will advance to play the loser of the Heat-Hawks play-in.

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Aesthetically speaking, it promises to be ugly, at least on paper.

And yet, it does have the makings of a dramatic evening.

As much as people like to recall the Raptors’ run to the NBA title in 2019, not many remember the fateful Game 7 in the divisional semifinal when Toronto escaped with a 92-90 win over the Sixers.

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Kawhi Leonard’s four-rim buzzer beater will forever resonate, but the Klaw missed 23 shots and took 39 to score his 41 points.

It was not a game purists would appreciate.

Nonetheless, it was dramatic.

No one is suggesting Wednesday’s matchup will be dropping with the same kind of drama.

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After all, it isn’t being played under a playoff backdrop.

At the same time, it is an elimination game and there will be drama.

It could be Nick Nurse’s final game as Raptors head coach and perhaps the final time a handful of players will be donning a Toronto jersey.

For DeMar DeRozan, it will be his first time in Toronto with the stakes this high.

In three meetings this season, the one-time face of the Raptors was held to a combined 26 shots from the field and averaged 14.0 points, a far cry from his season averages of 17.6 attempts and 24.5 scoring average.

DeRozan has seen every kind of defence opponents can possibly throw at him, including the multiple looks Nurse will design.

In a close game, and Wednesday night has the makings of a tightly contested tip, the Bulls will have the edge because of DeRozan’s ability to create or facilitate when extra defenders are sent his way.

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The story within the story leading up to tipoff involves DeRozan, who was beloved in Toronto for his on-court abilities and his support of the Toronto community.

As he so rightfully stated this week when DeRozan held court with Chicago reporters: “I will never be a villain in Toronto.”

Fans aren’t likely to cheer if DeRozan happens to drain a game-winning basket at the buzzer Wednesday, but there will be supporters who will privately approve.

“I say a joke about it here and there, just how crazy it’s going to be,” DeRozan said. “The atmosphere will feel like it’s an Eastern Conference final game in a play-in game.

“Driving to the arena, walking through the arena, you’re definitely going to feel it. That’s the beauty of that place and those fans and any competitor will want to be part of that for sure.”

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Which is precisely why Wednesday should prove dramatic, no matter how ugly the game gets.

By now, everyone should be well aware this Raptors team can’t shoot well enough to mount any serious playoff run, can’t create and aren’t deep enough to challenge an elite side such as Milwaukee, a team that will await Toronto if it even advances to the actual playoff round.

The Bulls are far being elite.

If they happen to win two road games in the play-in, their reward will be a successive first-round matchup with the Bucks, which dispatched the Bulls in five games in last year’s opening round.

The obvious edge for the Raptors involves home court.

In their past 14 dates at Scotiabank Arena, the Raptors went 12-2, which included a 104-98 win over the Bulls.

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Chicago turned the ball over 20 times, leading to 21 Raptors points.

The Raptors crushed the Bulls on the glass and attempted 23 more attempts from the field than their visitors.

The Raptors will scheme DeRozan where he won’t be able to go off for a big night offensively, but he’s smart and he will get his teammates open looks.

That’s where the likes of a Zach LaVine and a Nikola Vucevic come in.

LaVine had an aborted start to the season following off-season knee surgery.

His game slowly improved once he returned to the lineup.

Since the all-star break, he has averaged 27.0 points, while shooting 53% from the field.

Vucevic is a double-double machine who can step out and make shots.

In theory, he’ll be able to force Jakob Poeltl away from the basket, allowing lanes for DeRozan and LaVine to attack.

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The O.G. Anunoby versus DeRozan matchup will be good.

Chicago will likely ask Patrick Williams to defend Pascal Siakam in a matchup that favours the Raptors.

Scottie Barnes has the potential to impose his will, but so much will depend on his decision making.

The Bulls, who are well coached under Billy Donovan, suffered a huge blow following Lonzo Ball’s knee injury, leaving the team without a true point guard.

DeRozan has shown he can handle the ball in the half court.

What remains to be seen is what kind of full-court pressure Nurse will apply or how far will the Raptors extend their defence once Chicago crosses mid-court.

Chicago has a thin roster and it will have to rely on its starters.

Nurse has shown he’s more than willing to ride his starters.

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A potential X-factor in the play-in will be Patrick Beverley, who will likely be asked to guard Fred VanVleet in perhaps his final game in Toronto.

In the Raptors’ first two games against the Bulls this season, VanVleet averaged 28.5 points, while shooting 46% from the field and 48% from distance.

In the third meeting, he scored three points on 1-for-11 shooting from the floor, including 1-for-9 from distance.

Beverley is known for his defensive intensity and tenacity, the kind of player who can get under an opponent’s skin.

If Alex Caruso is able to shoot well from distance, the Raptors will need someone to step up, in all likelihood Gary Trent Jr., who may also be playing in his final home game in a Raptors jersey.

For a play-in game featuring two teams with no realistic chance of advancing beyond the opening round of the actual playoffs, Wednesday should be quite interesting.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com