Pippen Ain't Easy
Fansided

Chicago Bulls, Lauri Markkanen show fight, but fall in regular season opener

By Willie Lutz

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 19: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls looks on during the first half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre on October 19, 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)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 19: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls looks on during the first half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre on October 19, 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) /
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Despite a legitimate effort by the Chicago Bulls, the Toronto Raptors were simply a better team on Thursday night. The 117-101 loss affirmed suspicions of a talent disparity, but showed the potential of rookie Lauri Markkanen.

101. 24. Final. 117. 81

The Toronto Raptors are a better team than the Chicago Bulls.

Everybody in the Air Canada Centre knew this truth even prior to opening tip on Thursday night. After Toronto snuck out of the first quarter with a 25-23 lead, they never looked back.

Notably, Justin Holiday was playing with his hair on fire in the first frame. Through an ugly 5-of-16  shooting effort, going 4-of-12 from deep, most of his first quarter effort was all for nothing by the team’s lack-of-competitiveness over the duration of play.

Toronto started the second quarter on a 30-5 run, just about sealing the contest by halftime. Dwane Casey, head coach of the Raptors, made clear adjustments that allowed his team to play their physical brand of basketball, while forcing the Bulls to take bad shots.

Lacking depth on the bench, in part arriving via the right hook of Bobby Portis, the Bulls’ second unit took a beating. Denzel Valentine played 26 minutes, shot 4-of-10 from the field and scored 12 points, but finished with a plus/minus of -19.

In 16 minutes, Cristiano Felicio scored just four points with four personal fouls, three turnovers and a plus/minus of -19. The rest of the bench looks about the same from a statistics perspective, which wasn’t pretty.

Before rotations, the Bulls’ starting bunch struggles with the strength of Toronto. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan free-ran down the court, where Bulls’ defenders looked like a freight train rolled through town. This opened Toronto up for, in essence, whatever they pleased. Jonas Valanciunas was an unstoppable force, recording 23 points and 15 rebounds in 31 minutes.

Through the mess, it’s important to note the game of No. 7 pick Lauri Markkanen. In his first NBA game, the 20-year-old played 33 minutes of really solid basketball. Markkanen scored 17 points on 5-of-12 shooting (2-of-6 from deep) and he also hauled eight rebounds and recorded a block.

Performances like last night from the Bulls’ young talent are important for the fan base. Throughout the season, fans will inevitably find themselves restless with the culture of losing, but when the young talent show up to play, it’s a little easier to digest. 

Next: Markkanen shows potential in NBA debut

Overall, it was a tough night for this new version of the “Baby Bulls”, but hey, they tried, and sometimes that’s the best you’ve got.

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