LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are one of the teams favored to win an NBA title this season, but the two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player isn't ready to say his team is the best in the Eastern Conference. James said the Cavaliers have a "long way to go" before reaching the Chicago Bulls' level and conceded that the Bulls are "much better" than Cleveland right now based on team chemistry alone, reports Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group:
LeBron James says Bulls are ‘much better’ than Cavaliers
Are the Cavaliers better than the Bulls? LeBron James says Chicago has the edge right now.
David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
It’s going to be fun. I don’t really see a rivalry renewed right now,” James said after shootaround this morning. “We haven’t done anything right now. They’re a team that’s much better than us right now just off chemistry. They’ve been together for a while. The system has been there for a while. So, we have a long way to go.”
James has a history of competing with Chicago in the East, but his teams have eliminated the Bulls in the playoffs in all three series they’ve played. Cleveland has gone 4-1 through preseason and will get its first crack at the Bulls Monday night. The first regular-season meeting between the two powerhouse teams is on Oct. 31 and will be nationally televised on ESPN.
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The Bulls have made slight adjustments to their team over the years, sticking with a core led by Derrick Rose along with Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson and Jimmy Butler. Chicago added overseas forward Nikola Mirotic as well as NBA veteran Pau Gasol, and amnestied Carlos Boozer this summer. Cleveland had a huge summer, signing James and trading for Kevin Love.
Both teams will likely lead the way in the East and should have a competitive regular season series. But for now, James tips his cap to Tom Thibodeau’s Bulls.
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