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The new-look Chicago Bulls begin their preseason against Eastern Conference rivals Cleveland Cavaliers at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Tuesday (Oct. 8). Both teams are coming off contrasting runs with the Donovan Mitchell-led Cavaliers making the playoffs twice in as many seasons, while the Bulls have missed out on a playoff berth for two editions on the bounce.
The Bulls rung in changes during the offseason. They traded one of the league's best point-of-attack defenders Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey, OKC Thunder's up-and-coming point guard. They traded DeMar DeRozan to the Sacramento Kings and added Windy City native Matas Buzelis as their 11th overall pick in the 2024 Draft class. Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Patrick Williams return to the fold, as do Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic.
Cleveland made fewer moves, none of them major, and will run it back with their backcourt duo of Mitchell and Darius Garland. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen find their place back and the four players will now look to maintain a competitive run under new head coach Kenny Atkinson, explaining how one of the most sought-after coaches in the league would be the difference-maker from their campaigns last couple of seasons.
Chicago Bulls vs Cleveland Cavaliers Preview, predicted starting lineups, odds, and prediction
The Bulls vs Cavaliers tune-up game tips off at 7 pm ET. Local coverage will be on Bally Sports Ohio and Chicago Sports Network. The game can also be watched live on the NBA app with a subscription to the NBA League Pass.
Here's a quick look at the odds ahead of the Tuesday night matchup.
Note: Odds are subject to change closer to tip-off.
Chicago Bulls vs Cleveland Cavaliers Preview
The Bulls have promise and potential for the third straight year in a row — especially with a healthy LaVine and Lonzo Ball in their ranks. White and Dosunmu showed they are capable of keeping the offense flowing, while bounceback season to Vucevic might just see them perform better than ESPN's projected 31.8 wins.
The weaknesses are still glaring. The Bulls have a slim frontcourt, shooting is inconsistent, and Caruso's defensive versatility is a sore miss. Thrown in the LaVine conundrum and his future with the team, their preseason holds more weight and will certainly set the tone for what appears to be a season that could either way.
The Cavaliers' continuity will be their plus. A good season from Garland will surely up their ceiling. This is a side that has boasted of elite defense and a bristling offense, but the lack of synergy was apparent, and that's where Atkinson's astute planning comes into effect. He will surely bring in a fresh set of ideas that will see the stars complement each other. Much depends on how their starts focus on building better chemistry early on translating to better success throughout the season.
Chicago Bulls vs Cleveland Cavaliers predicted starting lineups
The Chicago Bulls will likely start Giddey and White sharing guard duties. LaVine and Patrick Williams form their frontcourt, while Vucevic slots in at the five.
The Cavaliers will see Garland and Mitchell starting their backcourt. Max Strus and Evan Mobley at SF and PF, while Jarrett Allen at center rounds up their starting five.
Chicago Bulls vs Cleveland Cavaliers prediction
The Cavaliers are a better unit on paper. They can be even better if they nail their game plans for the year in their preseason opener. The Bulls have every chance to spring a surprise, but much depends on how they make the level of impact that's expected of them. Take the Cavs for the win.
