New York's home-court advantage doesn't make up for this huge of a class difference.

The Bulls are anxious to start this new season after last season's playoff disappointment. Chicago has gotten better with Derrick Rose healthy and the additions of Pau Gasol and rookie Doug McDermott. The Bulls have a much deeper bench than New York.

The Knicks are going against the top defensive club in the NBA while adjusting to a triangle offense brought in by first-year coach Derrick Fisher. The Knicks struggled during preseason even giving up 120 points to the Bucks. J.R. Smith has yet to grasp the triangle and power forward Andrea Bargnani is out with a pulled hamstring.

The Knicks are going to have problems rebounding against Joakim Noah. New York's starting unit of Carmelo Anthony, Ian Shumpert, Jose Calderon, Jason Smith and Samuel Dalembert never played together during preseason. Anthony is a superstar, but the other four are not legitimate NBA starters.