Raptors-Bulls Preview

4/15/2008 2:51 PM

By KATE HEDLIN
STATS Writer

The only pressure the Toronto Raptors may feel in their regular-season finale to stay healthy as they get ready for the playoffs.

While the Chicago Bulls' postseason fate has also been decided, the future for several within the organization is in doubt as they play their final game of 2007-08 on Wednesday night at the United Center.

The Raptors (41-40) picked up their third win in four games, and clinched the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference on Monday with a 91-75 victory over league-worst Miami. Toronto will face Southeast Division champion Orlando in the first round of the playoffs, looking to advance to the conference semifinals for the first time since 2001.

"It's going to be a lot of fun," said Chris Bosh, who had 15 points and six rebounds on Monday. "Dwight (Howard) is a good friend of mine, but he's one of the best competitors that I have in this league ... We have to get a game plan ready for him."

Before the Raptors begin the playoffs, they look to finish with a winning record for the second consecutive season - the first time they will do so since a three-season stretch from 1999-2002.

Coach Sam Mitchell said after Wednesday's win that he plans on giving some rest to the starters, but that they will see playing time to avoid too long of a layoff. Bosh said it's nice to have their fate already decided going into the game.

"It takes a lot of pressure off Wednesday's game," said Bosh, averaging 15.0 points against the Bulls this season, well below his team-leading 22.5 per game. "We still are going to treat it like a regular season game, but going in already knowing that we have the sixth spot is good."

Chicago (32-49), meanwhile, will finish with its worst record since 2003-04, when the Bulls last missed the postseason.

After recording 49 wins last season and taking Detroit to six games in the East semifinals, the Bulls were expected to contend for the conference title but didn't come close to meeting expectations. They have fared well recently, though, winning two of three including a 151-135 victory over Milwaukee on Monday.

"It definitely wasn't a playoff atmosphere," said Bulls rookie Joakim Noah, who had 15. "Put it this way, if people were playing for something right now, like a playoff berth, the score would have never been like that."

The Bulls were four points shy of matching the franchise's regulation scoring record. They shot 67.0 percent from the field and had seven players reach double figures, led by 32 points from Luol Deng and 29 from Ben Gordon - who will both be restricted free agents this summer after turning down contract extensions in October.

The game may be the last for Bulls interim coach Jim Boylan. He took over for Scott Skiles, who was fired on Christmas Eve following a 9-16 start.

Chicago has lost four straight to Toronto after winning the previous 15. The Raptors' last sweep of the season series was in 2001-02 when they won all four games.