Nothin’ However Positives – Raptors vs. Bulls – October twenty fifth

Oh man. There are going to be a whole lot of emotions on this one.

We have already got your pre-game, your post-game, and your fast reactions for each recreation, however by fashionable demand (a couple of folks on Twitter) I’m bringing my quarterly positives proper right here in long-form. Relatively than attempt to sum them up in 240 characters or much less, I can now develop on what I preferred every quarter of the sport. If you happen to’re conversant in this format, you’ll know what to anticipate. If you happen to aren’t, simply know that if there’s a child carrying noise-canceling headphones, it counts as a optimistic and it’s happening the record.

First Quarter Positives:

Raptors win the tip! That’s twice already this season!
Preserving the Bulls shooters on the perimeter. They don’t shoot a whole lot of 3’s, preferring to drive and shoot midrange, so not permitting them to get to their consolation zones makes it more durable for them to attain.
Whether or not it’s OG and Valuable, OG and Gary, or any mixture of the starters, the Raptors are double and triple teaming the Bulls. A good suggestion towards a group constructed totally on sharp-shooting.
Gary Trent Jr.! His capturing towards Dallas was not what we had develop into accustomed to in the course of the small pattern dimension of this season, however he has already redeemed himself 4 minutes into the primary quarter.
DeMar’s little smirk after hitting the three.
Valuable’ shot choice has been fairly hurried, particularly underneath the basket. However tonight, fairly than throwing the ball up with reckless abandon hoping it’s going to go into the web, after a cross underneath the basket from Fred, we noticed him step again, analyze, spin, and shoot with success.
Staff effort – Fred VanVleet grabbing offensive rebounds and kicking them out to his teammates.
Often passing into open house is a recipe for catastrophe. However when Scottie handed out to the left weak aspect of the courtroom, he knew that Fred can be a half second behind to obtain the cross earlier than it went out of bounds or ended up within the palms of Chicago.
Baseline OG passing to Khem Birch, who was ready underneath the basket.
Goran Dragic taking part in with aggression. It’s the model of play you hated when he was taking part in towards you, however the identical play model can have followers loving him quickly sufficient.
Khem Birch with the soccer catch within the paint. I don’t know what the right terminology is. Go Cardinals.
Khem and Scottie setting the double display for Fred VanVleet, tricking the Bulls into pondering that Fred will drive to the basket. As a substitute he kicks it again to a driving Scottie who ends the quarter with a bang.

Second Quarter Positives:

Stepback Scottie! His consolation stage on the courtroom simply 4 video games into the season says rather a lot about him as a rookie.
Svi from 3! Previous to this shot, Svi selected to cross to Dragic, who missed, fairly than take the shot himself. It’s okay to be egocentric generally. Particularly if you’re as lethal as he’s.
Goran with the strip and run.
Gary Trent Jr. from the nook!
These aren’t the Bulls of the Scottie Pippen/Dennis Rodman years, and the Raptors know that. They’re profiting from the minimalistic model of defence Chicago performs, the place a single step to the aspect will get you open.
OG driving proper to the basket from the left.
Valuable 3! This goes again to the primary quarter level the place he is considering his shot extra.
Chris Boucher responding nicely to Nick Nurse’ public call-out from after the loss to the Mavericks. He checked in and instantly drained a 3, adopted by a defensive rebound.
Zach LaVine calling off the screener to attempt to ISO towards Valuable. Valuable responded by clamping him down like “YOU THOUGHT!”
AN OG SLAM THAT REQUIRED A TIME OUT.
AN OG 3 IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT TIME OUT.

Third Quarter Positives:

Valuable chasing down the lengthy rebound.
OG getting fouled on his personal rebound and attending to the road throughout a scoring drought.
Awwwww a new child child!!!
Gary Trent Jr. 3 after the a lot wanted timeout.
Fred VanVleet going by way of Zach LaVine like a poltergeist.
A 7-0 run after the Raptors referred to as a timeout, which then brought about the Bulls to name a timeout.
Scottie Barnes with the floater. His shot chart goes to appear like a colour-by-numbers by the top of this recreation.
3 level capturing! Everyone is consuming!
Fred driving deep into the paint to get Khem the slam dunk.
Svi grabbing the rebound and the putback.
Fred gliding by way of visitors for the left-handed finger roll.
DALANO! Mr. Fast Impression!
Turnovers! On the opposite group!

Fourth Quarter Positives:

Khem Birch with the jumper!
Dalano grabbing a a lot wanted defensive rebound.
Goran Dragic saving a free ball. His affect extends far past scoring, which is likely one of the causes he was acquired within the signal and commerce.
SCOTTIE BARNES SPIN MOVE!!!!
Extra turnovers!
Alize Johnson I miss you a lot however I’m glad you’re flourishing.
Dragic coast to coast! He’s getting in there like swimwear on each possession.
A profession excessive in assists (15) for Fred VanVleet.
DEFENCE TO OFFENCE! IT’S WORKING!
A profession excessive in assists (16) for Fred VanVleet.
OG! He got here out of nowhere! He’s so sneaky!
Fred to Valuable alley-oop, adopted by a Fred steal and drive that sends him to the road. This group could not have all of it discovered, however they don’t surrender.
A profession excessive in assists (17) for Fred VanVleet.
Turnover! Freddy bucket!
ANOTHER ONE! Fred is leaving his whole existence on the courtroom.
Significantly he’s going to win this recreation or die tryin’.
Scottie simply recreated the DeMar DeRozan/Detroit Pistons/Anthony Tolliver dunk. The previous has develop into the longer term.