NBA: Chicago Bulls v Cleveland Cavaliers to be a fierce rivalry in 2014-2015

The Chicago Bulls’ home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers begins a regular-season rivalry that looks set to go all the way to the finals.

COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 20: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers waves to the crowd as he leaves the court following the Cavaliers' 107-98 victory over the Chicago Bulls at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on October 20, 2014 in Columbus, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Jamie Sabau/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

MONDAY night in Columbus, Ohio, didn’t count. Oct. 31 does.

The Chicago Bulls’ home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers, after both teams face the New York Knicks, begins a regular-season rivalry that many consider a preview of the Eastern Conference finals.

Both teams are savvy enough and are populated by players who have won enough to know that talk is cheap. Their status must be proved on the floor.

But both teams also relish what is to come.

Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls drives in for a layup in the first half past Anderson Varejao #17 of the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on October 20.

“I’ve been competing my whole life,” Derrick Rose said. “I’m used to the stage and playing against very good talent. That’s all they got on that team is talent. So you know when you come out here you gotta play hard.” Exhibition game or not, Rose delivered a signature performance on Monday, scoring 30 points in 24 minutes. And it was the way those points were scored — a breathtaking mixture of lightning-quick drives and 4-for-5 3-point shooting — that served notice.

The Cavaliers paid attention.

“As a basketball person and a lover of this sport, it’s great to see him back and great to see him playing freely and playing well,” Cavs coach David Blatt said. “He means something to this game. The fact that he’s out there looking like the old D-Rose, that’s great for the NBA. I don’t know if it’s good for us, but it’s certainly great for the NBA and I’m happy to see him out there.”

Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives around the defence of Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls.

With LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, the Cavaliers are loaded offensively. The Bulls feature Rose and All-NBA centre Joakim Noah and often play the type of stifling defence under Tom Thibodeau that bodes well come playoff time.

The postgame respect that flowed from both locker rooms for their opponent speaks to a healthy rivalry that could replace Bulls-Heat of pre-Rose-injury days. That would be great for the league.

“They’re a very good team in this conference,” Love said of the Bulls. “They’re going to be right up there with the best teams in the East, and we’re going to have to battle with them four times this year and then potentially in the playoffs. We’re going to see them in one of the first couple games, and then we’ll both be on the way. But they’re going to be a very good team.” Game on — for real — in just 10 days.

LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers waves to the crowd as he leaves the court following the Cavaliers' 107-98 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

Originally published as NBA: Chicago Bulls v Cleveland Cavaliers to be a fierce rivalry in 2014-2015