However with most of the discussions done and Kevin Love set to land in Cleveland along side Lebron James, in exchange for Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett, ESPN and many other basketball power rankers are placing the Cleveland Cavaliers at the very top of the Eastern Conference.
Which leaves the Chicago Bulls sitting in the runner up spot.
And some analysts have been saying that it is not even close, giving the Cleveland Cavaliers a "bye" to the NBA Finals.
For the Chicago Bulls, it doesn't matter where you are at the start of the season, it's where you are at the end of the season.
And while the experts continue to expound about the virtue of trades that have yet to be completed (and approved by the NBA league office), the Bulls quietly exchanged Carlos Boozer for Pau Gasol and, in the process, added enough cap space to finally bring over former Spanish League MVP Nikola Mirotic in what might be considered by some as a "disappointing" summer.
While the Bulls did miss on creating the ultimate starting five by adding Carmelo Anthony in free agency, some would say that the Chicago Bulls' "Plan B" might actually be better than "Plan A".
With the moves they have made, the Chicago Bulls are actually 10 or 11 players deep as a team. And with the way the San Antonio Spurs just dismantled Lebron James' former Big Three, BullsNation has to be stoked with the strategy the Bulls are playing to preemtively match-up against the Cavs new Big Three.
But even more crucial than the Bulls free agent additions is the return to health of former MVP Derrick Rose.
No longer a matter of speculation, the Chicago Bulls' All-Star guard looked like the Derrick Rose of old as he dominated at Team USA practice.
During the first two days of Team USA practice, Rose showed that he was as explosive as he was prior to the catastrophic knee injuries that has sidelined him for nearly two years, and most importantly, he has had enough time to rehab that he has complete trust in both surgically repaired knees.
With that foundation in place, as well as, the addition of so many great pieces around Derrick Rose, it would be difficult for anyone to bet against these Chicago Bulls when the chip are down.
Will the Chicago Bulls top the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference standings when the season is done? Will it matter? Ultimately, who will win the Eastern Conference and advance to the NBA Finals: the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Chicago Bulls? Tell us what you think in the comments below!
