The Chicago Bulls enter the 2014-15 season amidst much change in the Eastern Conference. The perennial power of the past few years, the Miami Heat, lost their best player, LeBron James, during this past offseason. “The King” returned to his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who also added power forward Kevin Love. So the Cavs went from a yearly Eastern Conference doormat to the expected favorites. Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers lost Lance Stephenson to free agency (Charlotte) and Paul George is out with a devastating leg injury.
So the top two teams in the conference from last year have undergone significant changes. No change may be as big as the return of Derrick Rose to the Bulls starting lineup this season. The star point guard has played sparingly the past two years and is looking to return to glory this season with a slight new-look Bulls squad. Carlos Boozer has departed and in is Pau Gasol, the former Lakers star power forward. It is expected Gasol will flourish with Rose at the point, also enabling rising star Jimmy Butler and rookie Doug McDermott to perform at their highest level.