Rose believes Miami will be biggest rivals this season.
Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose has dismissed the Indiana Pacers and claimed that there is no real rivalry between the two this year.
While the 25-year-old revealed his respect for the Eastern Conference outfit, he believes that the rivalry between the two will grow over the next two years, but at this point there is a bigger sense of rivalry with the Miami Heat.
Rose was speaking before Chicago’s 103-98 win over the Pacers over the weekend, a game in which he scored 32 points as he continues to look impressive following his comeback from a knee injury.
“People say that it’s a rivalry, but I don’t really see it,” Rose said, according to ESPN.
“I say the team that is more like a rivalry is when Darren Collison was on the team. That one was more like a rivalry, but this team is a great team. They’ve already proven themselves last year by making it to the Eastern Conference finals.
“If anything, by probably in a year or two, it could become a rival. But right now, people say it’s a rival. … I just don’t see it right now.”
Rose went on to admit that Miami are the Bulls’ biggest rival ahead of the new season, as he continues to target an immediate return to success with the objective this year winning an NBA championship.
The Bulls were able to defeat the Pacers in the first round of the play-offs back in 2011 with a fully fit Rose, and will be eyeing a repeat performance should the two meet again in the post-season next year.
Nevertheless, it promises to be a thrilling season in the Eastern Conference, with the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks also harbouring hopes of reaching the NBA Finals.
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