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| Jimmy Butler re-signed with the Chicago Bulls during the off-season after leading the team with 20.0 PPG and 1.8 SPG last season. |
The Cleveland Cavaliers, announced as the favorites to win the Eastern Conference, will pose a considerable first challenge for Chicago Bulls Basketball as they begin the Fred Hoiberg-Era.
Aside from the head coaching change, the Chicago Bulls go into the 2015-16 NBA season with essentially the same roster as last season's 4th seeded team in the Eastern Conference.
However, the Chicago Bulls will be short-handed tonight with their usual starting small forward, Mike Dunleavy Jr. out due to back issues. Tony Snell has been getting the start, but second year man, Doug McDermott, has also been logging significant minutes, as well, including the final seconds of the final preseason game against the Dallas Mavericks. McDermott had the ball in his hands during the final seconds, and he hit the game-winning shot.
Another line-up change for this season has Nikola Mirotic, the runner-up for NBA Rookie-of-the-Year last season, moving into the starting power forward spot, with Pau Gasol moving over to the center spot. The shift allows Hoiberg to play his best offensive team to start games and provides the option of bringing in the defensive-minded Joakim Noah off the bench in bursts to lock down the other team's best front court player.
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| Derrick Rose looked good vs the Dallas Mavericks, despite the left orbital fracture, facemask, and possible blurred vision. |
Derrick Rose, after sustaining a left orbital fracture during practice, will play in tonight's season opener, although he has stated that he is still experiencing blurred vision related to the injury.
The Cleveland Cavaliers likewise made very few changes to their line-up from the NBA Playoffs. However, the Cavs' roster evolved last season to address all its flaws, yielding an impressive collection of role players around Cleveland's big 3 of Lebron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love.
The Cavs will provide a challenge and a great measuring stick for a rethought Chicago Bulls Basketball team that will need to evolve over the course of this season if it hopes to challenge the reigning Eastern Conference champs for the right to play in the NBA Finals next June.
Who will win tonight's Cavs vs. Bulls match-up? Who will win the Eastern Conference this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
