NBA Preview: Central Division

By: andrewgifford

Gotta get all these out by Wednesday or Thursday, so let’s get it on!!!!!

NBA Eastern Central Division

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

2. Chicago Bulls

3. Detroit Pistons

4. Indiana Pacers

5. Milwaukee Bucks

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (61-20)

I understand that the Celtics have KG back healthy and Orlando possibly (I say possibly because it’s a crap shoot) added some more fire power in Vince Carter. However, I still feel that the Cavaliers are the class of the Eastern Conference. Not only do they have LeBron, (I feel as though we’ve arrived with just calling him by one name like we do Bird, Magic, Kareem, Michael, Kobe, etc.) but I think that this is the best supporting cast that has surrounded LeBron since he arrived in Cleveland. First let’s talk about the big acquisition that they made in the offseason, and that’s no other than Shaquille “What’s He Calling Himself Now?” O’ Neal. This obviously gives the Cavs a low post threat that can take pressure off LeBron to score. A big topic this offseason has been “Can Shaq handle being a second or third option?” The people who make the argument that he can’t handle being a second or third option point to the season Shaq had with Phoenix last year. Shaq pretty much made himself the number one option last year while disrupting the offensive flow that Phoenix had. Phoenix really wanted to fly up and down the floor, while the offense that best suits Shaq is a grind it out, pound it inside type of style. That style of clashes led the Suns to a disappointing finish. I’m going to make the argument that Shaq can handle being a second or third option. I feel that Shaq kind of took over in Phoenix last year because he really didn’t see a real number option, other than himself, to go to. Now before you can scream AMARE, I don’t think that Shaq ever really trusted Amare because of the fact that Amare was always injury prone. In addition, Phoenix has always had an “everybody contributes” style of offense, which makes for great team play but never has a dominant number one option. In being with the Cavs, I believe that Shaq understands that LeBron is the number one option and will be glad to be a number two or three. If you think I’m wrong, look at the year in which the Miami Heat won the NBA title. There was a definite number one guy in Dwayne Wade, and Shaq played the number two option card all the way to another NBA title. I think he’ll do the same in Cleveland. As for the smaller acquisitions the Cavaliers made, these might not have the sexiness that adding a Shaquille O’ Neal has, but they might be just as significant. I’m going to look at two players in particular, Anthony Parker and Leon “Did You Hear He Lived In A Car” Powe. I love the acquisition of Anthony Parker. I believe this finally gives LeBron the outside shooter that’s he’s needed; Daniel Gibson and Delonte “El Mariachi” West are good players but I don’t consider them pure shooters. If they were, where were they in the Orlando series in June? Anthony Parker is more of a consistent shooter from the outside and I think this will definitely help LeBron in crunch time when he’s guarded by all five guys of the other team (don’t think it won’t happen). I like the Leon Powe signing because it gives the Cleveland bench a physical, tough center to use on their second team. I know they already have Anderson Varejao and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, but to that I say please don’t confuse hacking and fouling with physical and tough. I think Mo Williams will be more comfortable in the offense this year and I expect a really good year from him as well. I know I didn’t talk about LeBron much, but do I really have to, he’s going to have another MVP type season. Cavs roll over this division.

2. Chicago Bulls (45-37)

In looking at the Chicago Bulls roster, I might have to give this team my label of “After You Watch This Team On T.V., You’re Physically Tired.” With the amount of young guys on this team, they’re going to put those fresh legs to good use. With the leader of the pack, point guard Derrick Rose being a year older and more experienced, there’s no telling how far he can take this run and gun team. The Bulls playoff series with the Boston Celtics last year I believe was the best thing that could have happened to them. They had a little bit of success with taking the series to seven games, but they ultimately lost proving that they need to get better. The trade that ultimately got them to the playoffs, acquiring Center/Forward Brad Miller and Guard John Salmons, I feel will provide continuous momentum into this year. These are two veterans that can bring some experience and knowledge to a group of young and hungry guys. One of the key components of the Bulls playoff team last year, Guard Ben Gordon, left the team in the offseason and signed a 5 year, $55 million deal with the Detroit Pistons. I actually think that this helps the Bulls more than it hurts them. Now I understand that there were stretches, especially in the playoffs, where Gordon wouldn’t miss and would keep them in close games with his hot shooting. However, if you’re building a team identity that is all about an up-tempo style and the goal is to run the opposing team out of the gym, I don’t believe Gordon was a good fit. I think he’s more of a half-court, running around screens to get open type of player. Now he’s in Detroit playing along with the same type of player in Richard Hamilton (paging Joe Dumars’ brain). I think players like Forward Luol Deng and Point Guard Kirk Heinrich will flourish with Gordon going to Detroit. The front court for the Bulls is very athletic with Forwards Joakim Noah, Tyrus Thomas, rookie Taj Gibson and rookie James Johnson. I think that this team will continue it’s great play from last season, understand their roles and true identity, and definitely be fun to watch during the season.

3. Detroit Pistons (37-45)

If you were to ask me about what General Manger Joe Dumars and the Detroit Pistons are trying to accomplish with some of their recent personnel moves, I would automatically ask you in return “What is a woman thinking at all times?” That way you could know the feeling of not having a prayer to answer a certain question. Last year they traded away Chauncey Billups to the Denver Nuggets for Allen Iverson, and it was said they did so in order to free up cap space. Then this offseason, they went and signed Ben Gordon to a $55 million contract and former Milwaukee Bucks Forward Charlie Villanueva to a $35 million contract. To quote the great Vince Lombardi, “What the hell’s going on out there?!?!” I have no clue what direction that Detroit Pistons are going in, and I’m not sure they do either. Right now they have two guards that are essentially the same player in Richard Hamilton and Ben Gordon, trouble is both of these guys are going to have to share shots. Their Center situation is probably the worst one in basketball right now, currently they have the corpse of Ben Wallace, head case Chris Wilcox, and maybe the worst number one pick in NBA draft history Kwame Brown. As soon as I just wrote Kwame Brown, I heard echoes of NBA analyst Steven A. Smith ranting about how much Kwame Brown sucks and I got a smile on my face. Lastly, their point guard situation is atrocious. Right now their options are Chucky Atkins, Rodney Stuckey, and Will Bynum. Need I say more? The only guy I like on this team this year is Tayshaun Prince. He always plays hard, plays really good defense and is going to put up good numbers this year. Quick prediction, don’t be surprised if teams start inquiring about getting Prince in a trade from the Pistons around the trading deadline if they aren’t doing well. With the clusterf*&k that the Pistons will be this year, I’m not sure I blame him if he wants out. This team doesn’t seem to have an identity and I don’t think they’ll find one the entire season.

4. Indiana Pacers (36-46)

Ladies and Gentleman, I bring to you the Indiana 90’s and 2000’s College All-Stars. On the roster right now, the Pacers have former All-Conference players Mike Dunleavy, T.J. Ford, Tyler Hansbrough, Roy Hibbert, Troy Murphy and A.J. Price. Go back and read all those names over again, and when you do, picture Dick Vitale saying each name with 15,000 fans screaming behind him and tell me it doesn’t bring back memories. Last year the Indiana Pacers were 36-46, and that sounds about right for this season. Danny Granger got a big push in fantasy drafts this year, not because he’s a big star, but because he’s pretty much the only major offensive option for the Pacers this year. That fact right there does not bode well for the 2009-2010 Indiana Pacers season. This team right now is really young and it’s hard to tell how they’re going to play. With all of the former college stars they have on the team, you would think that they would be good. But then you realize that some of those players are on their 2^nd and 3^rd teams already, and then you think otherwise. I think Granger has a great fantasy year and Troy Murphy puts together a good season, but overall I think it will be another struggle for the Pacers. Reggie Miller is not walking through that door!!!!! But I think that most Pacer fans hope so at this point.

5. Milwaukee Bucks (34-48)

I don’t think I have the ability to make the Bucks sound exciting or entertaining. So I won’t try.

Tags: NBA, NBA Central Division, NBA Preview