Heat-Bulls will set tone for the second tier in the Eastern Conference

A clash between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls will begin to set the tone for the second tier in the Eastern Conference. 

The Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls have been two of the most surprisingly impressive teams in the Eastern Conference this season. They both made some big offseason moves and each of their acquisitions have already paid dividends through just the first 20 games of the season.

Miami is 12-7 and Chicago is 13-7 heading into this weekend’s clash between the two teams, a game that will set the tone for the second tier in the Eastern Conference. In the East, it’s really been a race for second.

Even despite the absence of Kyrie Irving, the Brooklyn Nets have clearly been the best team in the East at least thus far. James Harden got off to a rough start to the season, but he’s recovered nicely and is now playing at a high level and the Nets look overwhelming once again.

With that in mind, it’s the Nets and the rest of the East – at least for the time being. That said, an early-season clash between the Heat and Bulls will give us an early indication of what we can expect the rest of the way between the these two upstart teams.

This matchup should be a good measuring stick game for both teams. The Heat are making lemonade with their versatile wings. Their shooting is still somewhat of an unknown, especially as Duncan Robinson continues to struggle.

Despite that, the Heat still has a top 5 offense and defense and have been mightily impressive in the midst of a difficult schedule to start the season.

Chicago has been almost as impressive as the Heat as they sport a top 10 defense, with both DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine both averaging over 25 points per game.

Lonzo Ball has been a great addition for the team and has fit seamlessly next to this core. Chicago seemed to have push all the right buttons during the offseason as they looked to make the move from a rebuilding team to a contending team.

Both the Bulls and the Heat still have very much to prove and there’s no question that their clash against one another Saturday night will go a long way in that process.