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Intriguing matchups in the Eastern Conference for the Chicago Bulls
A brand-new NBA season is upon the Chicago Bulls. On Thursday, the full NBA schedule was released, giving the team its roadmap for the 2023-2024 campaign. The Eastern Conference is full of talented teams, and this year it will be even more competitive. The Bulls will face some tough opponents along the way, but certain matchups could be more important than others.
The Miami Heat in November
A familiar face will come to visit on November 18 and 20: former Bulls star Jimmy Butler, who is now the undisputed heart and soul of the reigning Eastern Conference champions Miami Heat. The Bulls certainly have an axe to grind against the Heat after the latter eliminated them from the NBA Play-in tournament last season.
The Bulls vividly recall that intense battle, where they initially held the lead until the Heat snatched the game away in the final moments. The defeat stung even more considering Chicago's triumph in all three regular-season encounters against Miami last year. Additionally, an intriguing aspect of this matchup lies in the composition of the Heat's roster.
Damian Lillard has long publicly stated his desire to be traded to the Heat, but it remains to be seen if the Portland Trail Blazers would be willing to play ball. Perhaps Butler and Lillard will be coming to town. Otherwise, the Bulls will see more of Jimmy Buckets by himself, especially after the team lost key cogs Gabe Vincent and Max Strus in free agency.
The Atlanta Hawks on February 12
Come February, the Bulls will surely have more clarity about which direction they're going to take. Their game against the Atlanta Hawks will come a few days after the trade deadline, which means that their roster could have changed significantly by then. If the Bulls are in a favorable spot by then, perhaps the team could add a player or two to make a run at the playoffs.
However, if the season's going the wrong way, that game may see the Bulls taking a different approach. Maybe it will no longer feature DeMar DeRozan, who's playing in the last year of his contract. Perhaps the Bulls finally lean into their younger players, such as Coby White or Dalen Terry. It's hard to say what direction the Bulls will go come February 12, but one thing's for sure: that game against the Atlanta Hawks will be a key moment in their season.
