The Chicago Bulls visit the Miami Heat on Tuesday to open the 2013 NBA season. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. ET. Listen to the live radio broadcast HERE or watch the live stream HERE*.
Bulls star Derrick Rose is expected to make his long-awaited return to the NBA shortly after missing the entire 2012-13 season. Rose played well during the preseason, giving Chicago fans hope that the wait was worth it. For the 2011 NBA MVP, there's only one objective for the season.
"Our No. 1 goal is winning the title," Rose said, via ESPN. "We're not worried about anything else. We're not worried about what people say about us or what's going on on the outside. We're just worried about the Bulls and how good we get every day."
Before Rose can return to the court, he and the Bulls will have to watch Miami celebrate its second consecutive NBA championship. The reigning NBA MVP, however, is ready to move on from last year's accomplishments and begin the campaign for the team's third straight title.
"After we get our rings, that's last year," James said. "We did some special things last year and this is an opportunity for us to look back at it one more time, but I definitely won't lose sight of what's in front of me."
If the Heat reach the Finals, which the team is already projected to do, it'd put them in elite company as just the fourth NBA team to reach the Finals four years in a row. With the possibility of the Heat's Big Three breaking up over the summer, accomplishing the feat means even more to James.
"It would mean everything, man," said James. "First of all, it means that I'm doing my part and I'm helping our team get better. It would mean everything to our team. That's what we're here for. We work our tails off every day. If it can pay off with another Finals appearance, we'd represent the Eastern Conference the best way we can."
