I thought this was supposed to be the the year of the New Big Three in Miami or at the very least the last real run for the Old New Big Three in Boston. Weren't the Bulls a year away from really contending? They weren't supposed to be in the top tier of the East. Some didn't even have them winning their own division, many picked the Milwaukee Bucks to win the Central.
But Friday in Cleveland, fitting since Cavs were top seed last year, the Chicago Bulls clinched the top seed in the Eastern conference since the Jordan era. But at 59-20 these upstarts aren't done yet. With three games remaining they are only 1 game back from the NBA leading San Antonio Spurs who have a record of 60-19. Chicago has two road games against the Magic and Knicks before finishing the season at home against the Nets. While the Spurs host the Jazz before finishing the season on the road against the Lakers and Suns. Even though the Suns aren't in the playoff we saw this past week they are just laying down and the Lakers the two time defending champs and currently the 2 seed in the West behind the Spurs are trying to hold off Dallas for that second seed.
Regardless if they catch the Spurs and clinch homecourt through out they already know who they will be playing in the first round. The Bulls will be hosting the Pacers in the first round and then they will face the winner of the Atlanta-Orlando series. Danny Granger of the Pacers said he preferred to play the Bulls, anyone else think he will be regretting that statement? On the other side of the bracket the Heat and Celtics will face off against the Knicks and 76ers. It hasn't been decided who will face who since all four teams are fitting for seeding.
Just a quick sidenote. 25 years ago the Bulls won 60 games for the first time in their history and won their first of six titles. I'll leave it at that. It's going to be a fun spring in Chicago.
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