I Cannot Wait, Can You?

This is going to be fun. Late October cannot come soon enough. If you think that it is because I am looking forward to dressing up for Halloween, then you would be wrong. I find it ironic that the bulls home opener is on October 31. I guess it is because that is the day that LeBron James and his merry band will be dressing up as Eastern conference champions. That will be the day Derrick Rose blows by everyone on the court with him including the ball boys during timeouts. I cannot wait, can you? That will be the day that Joakim Noah grabs every rebound in the building including the girl who just broke up with her boyfriend in the front row. I cannot wait, can you? 

That will be the day Bulls fans are introduced to the pinpoint passing of Pau Gasol, Who will hit everybody with the perfect assist including the guy selling peanuts in the 300 section. I cannot wait, can you? That will be the day that we see Coach Thibs demanding the very best out of everyone in the building including the guy taking statistics. I cannot wait, can you? 

That will be the day that Bulls fans everywhere begin to hear the echoes and the chants of the 90s and the Bulls championship past. I cannot wait, can you? I plan to be there on that night to hear the huge ovation that a certain point guard receives upon his return. I cannot wait, can you?

 If only I had a time machine to take me one month forward, so October 31 could get here much sooner. If I had that Time Machine, I probably would not have to wait. Yes, I simply do not have Marty McFly's home phone number. I guess I will just have to wait, can you wait?

NBA Questions: Eastern Conference Edition

I believe out of the two conferences in the NBA that the Eastern Conference provides even better story lines then the Western Conference. We went from one big three to another big three in Cleveland. And, as much as people want to crown the Cavaliers champions, I am not entirely sold on the King returning a championship to Cleveland. Nobody seems to remember the fact that Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving consistently get hurt. They have missed huge chunks of seasons in their short time in the NBA. 

Now, you have the Chicago Bulls and their new look team. They did not get Carmelo Anthony, but they put together a pretty darn good plan B. They have basically created a team that is strong at the positions, which Cleveland in particular is weak in like the post. We cannot forget that besides Kevin Love, Cleveland's big people are really not that great Yet, once again, the entire existence of the Bulls as championship contender all hinges on the health of Derrick Rose. 

One of the more fascinating qualities of the Eastern conference for this upcoming season are the team suffering from a huge reversal of fortune. You have the Indiana Pacers who unfortunately lost Paul George to injury for the entire season. You have the Miami Heat who lost LeBron James, so now their team is built around Chris Bosh. The same Chris Bosh, who people felt just last season whether not he should be even considered a part of the big three. 

Finally, you have the trainwreck known as the New York teams. I do feel that Phil Jackson will improve the Knicks, but they will not be contending for anything, anytime soon. You also have in that area, the New Jersey Nets, who do not have a draft pick until 2019. Are you serious? They do not have a draft pick until three years into the next president's term. 

I think everyone who covers the NBA looks upon the Eastern Conference as a two horse race between Chicago and Cleveland. It will be interesting to watch how quickly Cleveland can produce its team chemistry. Chicago has been playing with many of the same players for years. They know a system, they trust the system, and they are ready for anything. No matter what transpires, it will be exciting to watch.

NBA Questions: Western Conference Edition

This year will be a very exciting year in the NBA. So many fascinating story lines will be taking place everywhere across the league. Is this the year that the Oklahoma City Thunder finally break through and win a championship. Some will say that if Serge Ibaka had not gotten hurt last year, then San Antonio would have never gotten by the Thunder. Will this be the year that the Spurs finally falter? Some will say that it has to happen sometime. For starters, Tim Duncan is like 500 years old. I joke, but it seems the man does not seem to age NBA wise at all. Yet, I will say this, I am not completely sold on Kawai Leonard as the future. Can he do it over an entire season is my question. 

Can the Los Angeles Clippers take the next step? They have fought through the ordeal that was Donald Sterling, but do they have enough to simply get past the second round of the playoffs. What the heck will the Lakers do this season? I am very interested to see what happens with them. I wonder if Kobe Bryant can make one last stand making a push for the playoffs with the team that probably has no business sniffing the playoffs. Yet, then again, he could get hurt again and they could have an even worse season than last year. 

What are we to make of the other good teams in the Western Conference? It is crazy to think of a team like the Houston Rockets as an afterthought with James Harden and Dwight Howard, but it is happening nonetheless. Yet, if the playoffs last year taught you anything, we cannot sleep on the Portland Trailblazers either. Finally , do not forget about Stephon Curry and the Golden State Warriors. He simply puts on a shooting display every single time he plays, so you can never count out a team with one of the greatest shooters of the recent past. 

I think this brings up an interesting question: how the heck did the West get so loaded with really good teams and the East suffers from an absence of such teams? Well, I am not sure what the answer to that is, but I do know that I am going to enjoy watching these Western Conference storylines play out over the next season.

The Reckoning and Derrick Rose

What the future will bring is anyone's guess? This summer has been filled with unprecedented off-season news in the NBA world. LeBron James created a new big three in Cleveland. Carmelo Anthony went back to the New York Knicks and all that money. The validity of NBA players participating in FIBA basketball was under the greatest scrutiny ever. Finally, you have the Chicago Bulls. They failed to get Carmelo Anthony as he returned back to Phil Jackson and the Knicks. They did obtain a pretty good plan B with Pau Gasol. Their European prize Mirotic will be coming over. They still have Tom Thibodeau as their coach. Yet, as in years past, there is that one question?Those two words that you know are coming...Derrick Rose. 

If only he can remain healthy is what you will hear over and over again. Thus far, he has looked good during his time with Team USA. I believe this year is going to be different. Many people have doubted Derrick Rose and now he is angry. He has said that he would like those doubters to eat their words. I believe this to be a scary thought because as his play this summer has shown; the mind boggling speed and strength is still there, but also he has the learning experience that was last year. The man is on a mission to regain his legacy and live up to his contract. I am not sure if he can lead them to the promised land, but I am absolutely fascinated to see him try. If last year was simply the return, then this year will be the reckoning.