CHICAGO -- It's only the preseason and the Bulls without Derrick Rose tote a less than spectacular three wins and three losses in the ongoing NBA preseason schedule. But there is a buzz among basketball fans here in the Windy City, the kind of electricity that usually sizzles only during the playoffs.
So, what's all the hoopla?
It's the Thunder, who will visit the United Center Tuesday night to tussle with the Bulls. The Thunder, those boys from Oklahoma City increased their profile and legitimacy by tearing through the Western Conference last season before being stymied by LeBron James and the Miami Heat in the 2012 NBA Finals.
The merry, young Thunder parades an impressive line-up spearheaded by 3-time All-Star Kevin Durant, a back-to-back scoring champion who is fast morphing into one of the NBA's most prolific figures. Alongside the 6-foot-9 Durant is sidekick Russell Westbrook, easily one of the league's top five point guards who averaged 23.6 points and 5.5 assists per game last season.
But the Thunder are deeper than a 1-2 punch. The team also boasts of 6-foot-10, 235-pound Serge Ibaka who left a stamp last season as one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders. Ibaka, who recently inkied a four-year contract extension north of $50 million, is a terrific defender with a reliable jumpshot.
Rounding up OKC's core is James Harden, the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year.
The Bulls, meanwhile, will be ready with Kirk Hinrich at point, Richard Hamilton at shooting guard, Joakim Noah at center, Carlos Boozer at power forward and Luol Deng at small forward. (Artemio Mesiona)
The author during a Bulls game.
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