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.
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Despite the repatriation of Lebron James back to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Lebron made a point of describing the Cavs as "Kyrie's team".While it is difficult to buy that Lebron would be overshadowed by the Cleveland Cavaliers #1 Overall Pick from the 2011, who was acquired during the summer after Lebron first left Cleveland for South Beach and the Cavs finished with the second worst overall record (19-63), Kyrie Irving is undeniably a talented point guard with play-making instincts and scoring range out to the three-point line.
In fact, it was Kyrie's all-around game that may have gotten Lebron's attention in the 2014 NBA All-Star Game. Kyrie put up 31 points and 14 assists in his second NBA All-Star Game appearance, and in helping the East secure a 163-155 comeback victory over the West, he was named the All-Star Game MVP.
And if it wasn't enough that Lebron James had chosen to come play with him, one would be hard pressed to find an NBA player that has had a better summer than Irving. Kyrie had another great game performance in the Finals of the FIBA World Cup. He was named the MVP of the game as Team USA won gold.
Kyrie Irving seems to have taken advantage of the point guard spotlight being on him, in the absence of Derrick Rose, but DRose is back.
After playing 10 games in the last two plus years, Derrick Rose is back.
NBA fans who did not watch the FIBA World Cup games only heard that Rose shot poorly and split time with Kyrie Irving at the point guard spot.
Forget what you heard, and bull-ieve what you see with your own eyes. Here are highlights of what DRose looked like at the FIBA World Cup:
As a Chicago Bulls fan, if you aren't excited by how Derrick exploded back on the basketball scene during the Team USA tryouts and the flashes of brilliance during the FIBA World Cup, you are missing what the opportunity of playing with Team USA really was about.
Playing in the FIBA tournament, Rose got to knock the rust off of his game and get into NBA practice and conditioning habits with and against elite competition. While his stats were not what one would expect from the former MVP, shooting shots in practice versus shooting in the flow of the game at game speeds and conditions are two different things.
DRose has a head start on getting back into playing shape for the NBA preseason (which official starts tomorrow), as well as, the regular season to come.
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Rose came close to having Carmelo Anthony help to spread the defense for him, but in lieu of that, the Chicago Bulls added multiple offensive weapons and incredible depth to the bench at every position, including coveted rookie Doug McDermott, and prized free agent additions, Nikola Mirotic and Pau Gasol.
In his Media Interview, Rose has said that he is excited about playing with the talent that was added to the team during the off-season, and that this was the most talented team he has played on with the Chicago Bulls.
And while DRose did not predict another MVP Award as he did on Media Day 2010, prior to being named the youngest NBA MVP ever, he did say that this team will win the NBA Championship "very soon".
Why not this season?
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!
