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 Championship Coaches
While many experts have written the Cleveland Cavaliers a ticket to the NBA Finals, not many people know anything about the man that will be at the helm of that particular championship team.David Blatt will be a rookie head coach in the NBA this season, however he is a highly decorated head coach in several of the European basketball leagues, earning recognition for his coaching in several of his stops.
And although this will be his first experience chasing an NBA Championship, he has won the FIBA Eurocup Championship, the Italian League Championship, Euroleague Championship, and a bronze medal in the 2012 London Olympics.
On the other hand, Tom Thibodeau is now a Chicago Bulls establishment.
As a first year head coach during the 2010-11 season, he lead the Bulls to a record of 62-20, the best record in the NBA, and he was named the NBA Coach of the Year. After a closely contested 2011 Eastern Conference Finals, the Chicago Bulls finally succumbed to the Miami Big 3, who went on to lose in the NBA Finals.
Injuries to the former MVP, Derrick Rose, plagued sizable portions of the next 3 seasons, but despite the adversity, he and his teams have bonded and fought as one to overcome them. He has been true to the culture and identity of the Chicago Bulls tradition and history of winning by never giving up on what looked like a lost last season.
Now, with new, offensively adept pieces to complement the best defensive core in the league, the former NBA Coach of the Year will field a team whose balance and shooting can capitalize on the opportunities the defense creates to win games.
After the shrewd moves made by the front office during the off season, it is now up to Thibs to guide this team to the promised land.
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!
