Benchmark games on the schedule

The Raptors (27-24) currently sit atop the Atlantic Division, tied for 5th place in the Eastern Conference standings, in terms of Win Percentage (.529). Heading to Chicago this evening, Toronto has won 4 of 5 (Streak - L1) ... dropped a hard-fought game last time out against the veteran Pistons (second of a back-to-back with the LA Lakers), but ... is 14-6, overall, since January 1, 2007 and, now, starting to draw wide-spread North American media attention for their resurgent play, thus far, this season.

Chicago (29-23/.558), on the other hand, is fresh off a marginally impressive W, at Phoenix (albeit still without Steve Nash), which concluded a mediocre 7-game road trip that saw the Bulls outscore Seattle and Portland but fall prey to the Clippers, Jazz, Kings and Warriors.

The first-game back at home after an extended road trip (and, in the Bulls case this time, sandwiched between another road jaunt to Charlotte tomorrow night!) is notorious in the NBA as a "trap game" for good teams over the course of an 82-game regular season.

At first glance, it looks like Toronto (+4.0) should be a prime play tonight.

According to this corner, however, this is not the case.

Right now, there are 12 teams in the NBA with a better-than .500 record, in addition to the Raptors:

1. Dallas .824
2. Phoenix .765
3. Utah .667
4. San Antonio .647
5. Houston .640
6. Detroit .640
7. Cleveland .588
8. LA Lakers .577
9. Washington ..571
10. Chicago .558
11. Indiana .529
12. Denver .520

These are the 14 'best' teams in the NBA, currently ... when you include the sleeping giant in Miami (.490), who are now my pick to eventually win the championship this season.

Against these 13 other teams, thus far, Toronto's combined record is an abysmal 5-15 (.250). Specifically, when playing south of the 49th Parallel, the Raptors are 0-10 against these teams.

Chicago's record to-date against this group is a sterling 11-3 when playing at home in the United Center.

It says in this corner that, tonight's game is a bellweather contest for these two emerging teams in the Eastern Conference.

If Toronto can find a way to win this game, capitalizing on the Bulls emotional letdown after playing Phoenix ... the Raptors are going to validate their position at the top of the second-tier teams in the Eastern Conference (behind Detroit and Miami). If Chicago can avoid the trap that awaits them this evening ... the Bulls will occupy this next step down the ladder in this half of the NBA ledger.

It's a pivotal game for both teams.

Chicago has beaten Toronto 15 consecutive times.

After this evening the streak should be ... 16, and counting.