Since Friday was the schedule release day for the 2021-2022 NBA season, I made a prediction about how the Cleveland Cavaliers would open their season. My prediction was that their first game would be at the Washington Wizards, our second game would be at the Orlando Magic, our third game would be at the Miami Heat and then our home opener would be against the Boston Celtics. That said, it turned out I wasn’t even close!
Instead, the first five games of the Cavs schedule (which you can view here) will be as follows: at the Memphis Grizzlies, home against the Charlotte Hornets, home against the Atlanta Hawks, at the Denver Nuggets, and at the LA Clippers. That’s a pretty brutal way for the Cavaliers to begin their season, no doubt.
But there’s a particular opponent that I’m really interested in seeing the Cavs play, and that’s the Chicago Bulls.
To me, the Bulls are the most intriguing matchup for the Cavs next season.
Due to last season being shortened from 82 games to 72 games, the Cavs and Bulls played each other three times instead of the usual four times. Cleveland was able to win the season series against Chicago 2-1. This upcoming season, the Bulls will come to “The Land” on Dec. 8 and March 26 and the Cavs will visit the Windy City on Jan. 19 and March 12.
Other than signing Jarrett Allen to a five-year, $100 million extension and drafting Evan Mobley, the Cavs have not really done anything in free agency. This is a little bit worrisome because the roster has clearly not improved the way the Bulls did.
In the offseason, Chicago made some notable additions.
They added guard Lonzo Ball via sign-and-trade with the New Orleans Pelicans and All-Star guard/forward DeMar DeRozan via sign-and-trade with the San Antonio Spurs to pair with former NBA Slam Dunk champion and All-Star guard Zach LaVine and skilled big man Nikola Vucevic. They acquired him via trade last season, for reference.
As a result of these additions, the Bulls believe that they can jump into the thick of things in the Eastern Conference, and be firmly in the postseason picture.
Meanwhile, there was a brief stretch last season where it looked like the Cavs might have been able to get into the NBA Play-In Tournament. However, they suffered some key losses down the stretch which prevented that from reaching this goal, injuries aside. Would the Cavaliers have done anything if they had gotten in? Probably not, but it still would’ve been a positive step in the right direction.
Other than the 121-105 victory by Cleveland at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on April 21, the games between the Bulls and Cavaliers were close contests. On March 24, the Cavs defeated the Bulls 103-94; that’s a nine-point difference! Then on April 17, the Bulls won by 10, 106-96.
As stated earlier, the Bulls made some major additions in the offseason with Lonzo and DeMar. Despite these additions, it still feels like Chicago and Cleveland are pretty similar teams.
They both have a big man who can step out and make three-pointers and mid-range looks, in Kevin Love (if he’s around) and Vucevic. From there, they both have dynamic guards in Darius Garland (who had a bounce-back season in 2020-21) and Collin Sexton and Zach LaVine and DeRozan. Additionally, they both have skilled forwards coming off their bench in Larry Nance Jr. (although, I think he should be starting instead of coming off the bench) and Lauri Markkanen, albeit we’ll have to see if he sticks.
Regardless, along with the roster comparison, both of their head coaches in J.B. Bickerstaff and Billy Donovan, have been put through the grinder.
And historically, the Cavs and Bulls have not liked each other. Remember LeBron James’ buzzer-beater to win Game 4 of the 2015 Eastern Conference Semifinals 86-84? Or what about Derrick Rose’s buzzer-beater to win Game 3 of the 2015 Eastern Conference Semifinals? Michael Jordan’s buzzer-beater over Craig Ehlo?
There have been a lot of buzzer-beaters in this series. But that’s what makes these games exciting to watch.
Cavaliers vs. Bulls four times in a season? Yes, please, and thank you! Each matchup should be more exciting than the next.