Knicks vs. Bulls instantly conjures up memories of 90s basketball featuring Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Anthony Mason, John Starks, Patrick Ewing, Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, and plenty of characters that elevated the rivalry to an unforgettable place in NBA history.
In 2015, the franchises are drastically different but both teams are seeking the glory days once again in a chase for the title.
Chicago is moving into a new era after Tom Thibodeau was fired in late May and former Bull Fred Hoiberg was hired in June. Under Thibodeau, Chicago was considered an elite defensive group with a propensity to overachieve despite severe injury issues to star players. Thibodeau’s Bulls won 68 percent of their regular season games, reached the playoffs in each of his five seasons, and registered at least 50 wins three times in those five years.
There’s some belief that Hoiberg can ramp up Chicago’s offense even though they ranked in the top 10 last year in offensive rating. Hoiberg’s Iowa State teams enjoyed success in the Big 12 by spreading the floor with 3-point shooters and speeding up the tempo to place serious pressure on the opposition. Derrick Rose (if healthy), Jimmy Butler, and even Joakim Noah could thrive in an offense that finds advantageous opportunities in transition or early in the shot clock. We’ll have to see how Nikola Mirotic develops in his second season and if Pau Gasol can avoid father time to put together another strong statistical year.
Aside from re-signing Butler, which was a necessary move considering his 3-and-D abilities; the Bulls remained fairly quiet in free agency this summer. Chicago will welcome back speedster Aaron Brooks and Mike Dunleavy and introduce rookie Bobby Portis, who was selected 22nd overall in the 2015 Draft.
The specific matchup against the Knicks is an intriguing contest to usher in the New Year on Friday night in the Windy City. There are storylines of note that are accompanying this game. Jackson’s team facing his former team where he captured six titles, the rookie Kristaps Porzingis, often compared to Gasol, going head-to-head, and Carmelo Anthony appearing in Chi-Town after turning down the Bulls in free agency two summers ago. New York will have already hosted the Bulls on December 19 but this 8 PM tilt should provide the road squad a litmus test against one of the expected top teams in the Eastern Conference.