by Marcel Mutoni / @ marcel_mutoni
The rivalry between Chicago and Miami is one of the best, and fiercest in the NBA. The League’s marketing folks know this, of course, and they take full advantage.
The Heat will reportedly get their championship rings on Opening Night with the Bulls looking on and stewing.
According to Jimmy Butler, Chicago wants to make sure that never happens again — Butler says that the Bulls “can’t let” LeBron James and company win their third straight title.
Per ESPN:
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported last week that the Bulls and Heat are expected to face off against each other in the season opener on Oct. 29. Bulls third-year guard Jimmy Butler says he and his teammates will not be looking forward to seeing LeBron James and Co. get their championship rings. “I don’t think anybody wants to watch that on our team so we won’t pay too much attention to it,” Butler said. “They deserved it. They won a championship, definitely, but they got to deal with the Chicago Bulls for 48 minutes coming out right after that, they get their rings.”
Butler also acknowledged that there is a growing dislike between the Bulls and the Heat. The Heat have knocked the Bulls out of the playoffs in two of the past three seasons. “I think so,” Butler said when asked about the dislike between the teams. “But it’s not just us, it’s the city. That rivalry, it’s crazy. They’re the back-to-back champions and when you think three-peat, you think Chicago so we can’t let that happen.”
The Bulls have talked a lot about the Heat the last three seasons, but so far, that’s all they’ve done.
Jimmy Butler’s playful bravado is likely boosted by the knowledge that Derrick Rose will re-join Chicago’s war with Miami next season.
