Miami claimed the lion’s share of the media’s attention during the free agency madness this NBA off-season, but the Chicago Bulls could be the most improved team in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls have two promising young stars in Derrek Rose and Joakim Noah that appear to turning into elite NBA players. Rose has been attacking the basket with authority since starring on Team USA at the World Championships. Last season Rose became the first Chicago Bulls player to make the All Star team since Michael Jordan. Noah’s game has grown in leaps and bounds since he first came to Chicago. The 25-year-old power forward could be the best the rebounder in the NBA. Last night Noah played his heart out at the United Center, leading the Bulls to victory over the Denver Nuggets. Taj Gibson and Luol Deng have had strong starts to season as well. Looming over the Bulls’ bright future is the return of off-season acquisition Carlos Boozer from injury. When the former Utah Jazz power forward returns to the court we will truly see how good the Bulls can be.

Last year the Chicago Bulls were knocked out of the NBA Playoffs in the first round, but there seven game series with the Boston Celtics might of been the highlight of the entire postseason. This year head coach Vinny Del Negro has a much more difficult task ahead of him playing the #1 seed Cleveland Cavilers. Lebron James is probably the last player you want to face in the NBA in the playoffs. The Bulls were able to defeat the Cavs with Lebron early on in the season in a low scoring game in November 86-85. Lebron told the media he’s been thinking about game 1 of round 1 of this year’s NBA playoffs since losing to the Orlando Magic in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. The return of Joakim Noah to the Bulls lineup helped Del Negro’s team finish the season going 7-3 in the last ten games. Derrick Rose can take over games himself, but he needs Noah to perform at his best if the Bulls want any chance of giving Lebron and the Cavs a fight. Game one tips off from Cleveland on Saturday at 3PM ET on ABC.

Last Friday night’s contest between the Chicago Bulls and Phonexi Suns was a benchmark game for 21-year-old Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose. The 2008-09 Rookie of the Year has proved the last year and a half that he was one of the most promosing young players in the NBA, but on Friday against the Phoneix Suns he showed that he’s ready to step up and be a star. Prior to the game Rose announced that he would donate $1,000 to the relief effort ongoing in Haiti for every point he scored against the Suns and the point guard didn’t dissapoint. Rose amazingly went 15-21 from the field scoring 32 points looking unstoppable at times. After hitting a 3-point shot falling away from a Suns defender Rose just threw up his hands as if to say “I can’t believe how good I’m playing”. The Phoneix crowd couldn’t help but be silenced when Rose threw down a vicious dunk that reverbarated throughout US Airways Center. One can’t expect Rose to play this well night in and night out, but his performance might just be a sign of things to come for the young professional.

Joakim Noah, forward player for the Chicago Bulls, is one of the latest sports celebrity to be arrested on drug charges. He was caught by authorities in Gainesville approximately 1.50AM on Sunday morning. and discovered to have been drinking alcohol in a plastic container which is against the city’s law. Upon further inspection, Sgt. Rick Roberts found some marijuana nestled in his pocket. He was not put in jail immediately, rather he signed a notice and promised to appear before a judge before being let go. If convicted, Noah could be put behind bars for up to half a year and be slapped with a $500 fine for having marijuana with him.