Everything said since their last game, v Timberwolves on 16 Oct.
Rookie Caleb Wilson says he and Matas Buzelis will be key to protecting the Bulls' rim with Nic Claxton out: "I'm definitely going to be a big part." Tiago Splitter wants him looser: "Caleb has a thousand things on his mind right now... just go there and hoop."
Jalen Smith will start at center for the Bulls with Nic Claxton out, Tiago Splitter said, with Tobe Awaka "just coming back." Splitter wants everyone but the shooter chasing misses 75% of the time, up from about 40%: "we don't have the best shooting team in the NBA."
Nic Claxton must practise full speed with the Bulls before he returns; Tiago Splitter would only say "on average" two more weeks. Zach Collins practised fully but won't commit to 21 October, and expects limited minutes: "whether that's 10 minutes, 15, 20 minutes, not sure."
Everything said since their last game, v Pistons on 16 Oct.
Toronto will gamble less on defense, Scottie Barnes said at practice, because teams got easy baskets off them: "We're going to continue to pressure, but I think we're going to be smart with it as well." Asked if they'll pick up less high on the floor, he wouldn't commit.
"Nate Bittle is out of the boot, so he's reconditioning now," Toronto's Darko Rajakovic said at practice, calling the team in "pretty good health." Asked whether Alijah Martin had tweaked his knee, he said Martin went through a whole practice and "was completely fine."
Scottie Barnes will carry a heavy load for Toronto, Darko Rajakovic said at practice: "We need Scottie to be a beast getting to the rim, scoring at the rim. We need Scottie to knock down his 3s." He accepts some nights Barnes will overpass or take too many shots.
"It's still a grind, even for everybody... You're not in midseason mode." Kawhi Leonard on his conditioning before Toronto's opener. He gauges readiness by playing games and seeing how he feels, says "you can't go as hard as you used to" and that recovery is now big.
Toronto is tracking Kawhi Leonard's workload and health, with his own input, to keep him holding up through the playoffs. "We're checking every single box that exists," Darko Rajakovic said. Leonard even asked to guard more point guards in preseason to build conditioning.
Trayce Jackson-Davis, after losing time, got heavy minutes in Toronto's last two games, and Darko Rajakovic liked his drives and finishes. The Raptors coach wants him attacking the basket: "We need him to be a beast regarding the ball offensively and defensively."