If things play out in reality as they do on paper, the Eastern Conference will be a two horse race between the Cleveland Cavaliers and YOUR Chicago Bulls.
This was a truly eventful summer that was filled with fantasies of a Chicago starting five that would have been the best since the Michael Jordan Era. However, when the Bulls were forced to go with Plan B, they went with Plan BIG, as in bringing in two-time NBA Champion Pau Gasol and former Spanish League MVP Nikola Mirotic, as well as, NCAA Scoring Champ and the Consensus College Player of the Year Doug McDermott. If it is possible, the Chicago Bulls may find that in June, they were better off missing on Carmelo Anthony than if they had gotten him.
As for right now, there is great hope and optimism that these Chicago Bulls are something special.
#CHIvsCLE Small Forward (The Unstoppable Force vs. The Immovable Object)
Lebron's heartfelt essay and his return to the hometown he abandoned in search of an easier path to an NBA Championship aside, Lebron's move back to the Cleveland Cavaliers is mostly about putting himself in a better situation to win.The Cleveland Cavaliers were able to stock assets after losing Lebron and then losing game after game for four long seasons, and after winning the NBA Draft Lottery three of the last four years, they had the pieces to bring in All-Star Kevin Love to play alongside Lebron and 2010 #1 Overall Pick Kyrie Irving to form a younger, potentially better Big Three than the one assembled in Miami.
At this point, Dwayne Wade is a shell of his former self and while Chris Bosh capitalized on the departure of Lebron to get a max contract from a desparate Pat Riley, he can only dream of dominating the boards the way Kevin Love has shown he can.
After dominating a weak Eastern Conference last season, the Miami Heat were demolished and Lebron clearly saw that he was back to being a solo act in a one-man show and that was not a situation he knew how to win in.
With the Cleveland Cavaliers apparent turn around in fortune, the Chicago Bulls will be going to a proven answer. After an incredible 2013 NBA Playoff series and several 2013-14 regular season match-ups against the Miami Heat, Bulls Head Coach Tom Thibodeau knows who to go to in order to contain and frustrate Lebron James.
Jimmy Butler's defense and endurance in matching up with Lebron in the 2013 NBA Playoffs made him a household name and helped earn him a starting job at the shooting guard position.
And while Butler's offensive stats dipped during the 2013-14 campaign, Butler's defense remained consistent and earned him All-Defensive Second Team honors.
But all Chicago Bulls fans relish his legendary battles against Lebron James the most.
And one game exemplifies what Jimmy Butler brings against Lebron that no one else in today's NBA does, and that was the Chicago Bulls victory over the Miami Heat in OT on 2014.03.09.
Butler and Noah combined to will the overachieving Chicago Bulls from a 12 point 4th quarter deficit to win in OT. Butler had the game-saving play of the game, stripping Lebron on his last second drive to the basket in regulation.
ALL HEART, BABY!
Look for more epic battles this coming season between Jimmy Butler and Lebron James, but if you are a Chicago Bulls fan, there is only one player to pick in this match-up!
So, BullsNation, who wins this match-up? Tell us who you are voting for in the comments below! And stay tuned to our Facebook Page for results and our next vote!
