DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine prepare to take on Toronto Raptors' relentless defense

DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine knows what's waiting in store for them against the Toronto Raptors.

© John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

With the long 82-game regular season behind them, the Chicago Bulls must now turn their attention to the team they will be taking on in the first round of the NBA Play-in tournament on Wednesday—the Toronto Raptors. The Bulls' two stars, DeMar DeRozan, and Zach LaVine, in particular, will have their hands full as they expect to bear the brunt of the defense coming from the Raptors' multitude of wingmen.

Adjustments to the Raptors' defensive gameplan

LaVine and DeRozan are the Bulls' most potent offensive weapons, so it's likely that the Raptors will key in on them defensively. The two wingmen are also aware of this and are ready to make adjustments to their own games.

"We understand what they do and how Nick makes adjustments and different traps," LaVine said. "All three games, they played a little bit different defense. They adjusted each game. So it's going to be interesting to see how they come out and play and how we respond to how they're guarding us."

Of the two, DeRozan was the one most affected by the Raptors' defense this season. In three regular-season games against Toronto, DeMar averaged just 14 points—10.5 below his season average. An even bigger concern is the number of shots he attempted, as the most he's had against Toronto this season was 11.

"That's Nick Nurse," DeRozan said. "I'm going to deal with it. I know how to deal with it now. But playing against Nick and those guys, they try to do everything in their power to make sure I don't beat them."

"We got a couple days to gameplan and put together something. I'm aware of it for sure. For my sake, I definitely have my own theory of how I'm going to deal with it."

Beverley implores Big Three to step up

Pat Beverley recently played for the Minnesota Timberwolves when they advanced to the 2022 NBA Playoffs via the Play-in tournament. Aside from that, Beverley has also had numerous deep playoff runs, so he knows a thing or two about what it takes to be successful at this stage of the season. He implored the Big Three of DeRozan, LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic to step up their games ahead of the play-in tournament.

"How much they get paid? That's where you make your money. That's why you pay them all the big bucks to represent," Beverley said. "Teams I've been on in the past, max guys, they've done so and I don't expect anything different from this group."