5 key games to watch for the Chicago Bulls in 2017-18 NBA season

BLOOMINGTON, MN - JUNE 29: Tom Thibobeau introduces Jimmy Butler of the Minnesota Timberwolves to the public during a press conference at the Mall of America on June 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, MN - JUNE 29: Tom Thibobeau introduces Jimmy Butler of the Minnesota Timberwolves to the public during a press conference at the Mall of America on June 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
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The Chicago Bulls take on the Toronto Raptors in the season opener on Oct. 19.
TORONTO, ON – MARCH 21: Robin Lopez #8 of the Chicago Bulls fights with Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors during the second half of an NBA game at Air Canada Centre on March 21, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

4. The Bulls open the season on Oct. 19 against a team they’ve owned over the last few seasons

Until late last season when the Bulls blew a huge lead on the road, they had owned the Toronto Raptors 11 straight times. Seriously. They beat the Raptors 11 straight times and one of those games including Doug McDermott lighting the city of Toronto on fire. One of those games was also the classic 40 points in one half for Jimmy Butler in Toronto.

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You get the idea. The Bulls have dominated the Raptors for the last 3-4 seasons. Toronto ended the curse with a comeback overtime victory that mentioned a bit ago. In their next matchup on Oct. 19, Robin Lopez will wrestle Serge Ibaka in a rematch from their bout on March 21.

Only kidding. Kinda.

With the scheduling changes for the NBA, including an earlier start to the season for every team, the Bulls will open the 2017-18 season on the road against the Raptors.

This Raptors game will be much different than the games from years past. There’s no Jimmy Butler to lock down DeMar DeRozan. There’s no Derrick Rose to take Kyle Lowry off his game. There won’t be any random shooting exhibitions from Doug McDermott either.

They’re may or may not be a Lopez fight, but you’ll have to tune in for that one potentially.