Chicago Bulls Must Win Against the Miami Heat in Season Opener


Joakim Noah

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The 2012-13 NBA season ended only about a month ago and already, somebody couldn’t wait to leak the opening match-up for the 2013-14 NBA season. According to South Florida Sentinel writer Ira Winderman, the Chicago Bulls will begin their 2013-14 season watching the Miami Heat collect their back-to-back NBA championship rings on Oct. 29.

The Heat have been the team to beat the past three years. LeBron James has clearly separated himself as the best player in the NBA and does not look to be slowing down. But if that was not enough, he has two superstars aiding him in Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. The trio have been to three consecutive NBA FInals, winning two and losing one.

But this introductory match-up could be a good thing for the Bulls. The last time the Bulls commenced a season against Miami, in 2006, they won by a convincing 42 points. That year, the Bulls finished third in the Eastern Conference with a 49-33 record. Chicago was also the highest-rated defensive team in the NBA that season at 99.6 as well.

The Bulls won the regular-season battle against Miami that year, posting a 3-1 record with a 17-point margin of victory. Then went on to sweep the Heat 4-0 in the first round of the playoffs.

Even though these aren’t the same teams, momentum plays a huge role in sports. From sold-out crowds screaming at the top of their lungs to five-game winning streaks, momentum can carry a team a long way. It can give athletes the feelings of confidence, courage and high charisma. The momentum of defeating the defending back-to-back champions, in their home arena, could translate over the entire 82-game season for Chicago.

With a healthy ex-MVP in Derrick Rose returning to the court, the Bulls have a solid line-up to compete with the Heat. The Bulls and Heat have had some rough, competitive games in the past. These two teams do not like each other and anything but a win will not be good enough.

If the Bulls can pull off a win on the road at the American Airlines Arena in the 2013-14 season opener, they will have a ton of momentum going into the rest of the season.

Brandon Martin is a Chicago Bulls writer for www.RantSports.com Follow him on Twitter @PressCoverage_ or add him to your Google Network


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  • NewsJunkie

    When two great teams meet, one is always going to lose. One game does not a season make. The Bulls could lose by 40 in the opening game and it is still meaningless.

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