NBA Season Preview: Central Division is Bucks to lose

Milwaukee Bucks, 1st Central Division

Record: 58-24

Head Coach: Mike Budenholzer 

Key Additions/Re-signings: Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, George Hill, Robin Lopez, Wesley Matthews, Kyle Korver

Key Losses: Malcolm Brogdon, Nikola Mirotic, Tony Snell

Impact Player: Robin Lopez

Most will likely ask, why Robin Lopez? One word, defense. Robin is everything his brother Brook Lopez isn’t when it comes to the defensive side of the floor. For all the scoring punch Brook can bring, having a defensive-minded backup is a great move. Another significant impact Robin will make is that there will be no let down at the position no matter who is on the court. Both Brook and Robin could start for a lot of NBA teams. This depth is a luxury NBA teams would kill to have.

Season Outlook: The Bucks should easily take the Central for the second year in a row. This team is a legit title contender and one of the top three teams in the east. After a 60-win season under then first-year coach Mike Budenholzer, the sky is the limit in year two. Will Giannis place a Larry O’Brien trophy next to his MVP trophy at the end of the NBA season?

Indiana Pacers, 2nd Central Division

Record: 51-31

Head Coach: Nate McMillan

Key Additions/Re-signings: TJ Warren, Malcolm Brogdon, Jeremy Lamb, TJ McConnell

Key Losses: Darren Collison, Tyreke Evans, Bojan Bogdanovic, Thaddeus Young, Wesley Matthews, Cory Joseph

Impact Player: Malcolm Brogdon

Brogdon will have the chance to be the focal point of a team for the first time. Will he become the next star find for the Pacers? A diamond in the rough(see Victor Oladipo). If Nate McMillan can unlock Brogdon’s talent, creating a second star for the Pacers, lock him up forever. Brogdon’s development will be the key to how good this Pacers team could end up.

Season Outlook:  The Pacers are a well-coached good basketball team. They will likely win close to 50 games again this year and challenge for a playoff spot. If the Pacers can get Victor Oladipo back by January and Brogdon is the player they hope he is they could make some noise in the playoffs. In the end, they look like an excellent team that will come up short of being a championship team.

Detroit Pistons. 3rd Central Division

Record: 45-37

Head Coach: Dwane Casey

Key Additions/Re-signings: Derrick Rose, Markieff Morris, Tony Snell 

Key Losses: Wayne Ellington, Ish Smith 

Impact Player: Derrick Rose

Rose signed with the Pistons after reviving his career in Minnesota with his best season in years. As a critical reserve for the Wolves, Rose averaged 18.0 points per game. The Pistons hope Rose can come in and continue his rebirth in Motown, providing offense to a team that is dire need. The Pistons ranked 25th in the NBA in scoring. If Rose can keep his head straight and give the Pistons the scoring punch they need, it could push them closer to 50 wins. If not, the offense will hold them back once again.

Chicago Bulls, 4th Central Division

Record: 30-52

Head Coach: Jim Boylen

Key Additions/Re-signings: Thaddeus Young, Tomas Satoransky, Coby White 

Key Losses: Robin Lopez

Impact Player: Thaddeus Young

Thaddeus’s impact will be two-fold on the young Bulls. He will provide a steady presence on and off the court. He is a hardnosed defender and will clean up the glass and give you double-digit scoring each night. The Bulls will need Young to take hold of this young locker room and show them how it’s done if they want to see significantly increase the rebuild timeline. Adding Young could end up the Bulls best move this past offseason.

Season Outlook: Can the Bulls stay healthy? That is the biggest question surrounding this young talented team. Zach LaVine has not played a full season in three years. Lauri Markkanen has yet to play an entire NBA season. Wendell Carter Jr. opened his NBA career, with only 44 games played. Adding veterans like Young and Tomas Satoransky should help when/if the young guys go down with injuries again. For the Bulls to take the next step, the core must get healthy and play before knowing the ceiling this team truly has. 

Cleveland Cavaliers, 5th Central Division

Record: 29-53

Head Coach: Jim Beilein

Key Additions/Re-signings: Darius Garland, Dylan Windler, Kevin Porter Jr.

Key Losses: David Nwaba

Impact Player: Darius Garland

The Cavs drafted Garland because they felt he was the best player on the board. That is all that matters. If they are right and the talent is as good as some scouts have proclaimed(see Damian Lilliard), the rebuild could speed up pretty quick. With only six games of college tape, we won’t know till he hits the court in the NBA.

Season Outlook: The Cavs hired Jim Beilein as the new head coach. They have added two point guards with top ten picks in the last two drafts. If Beilein can find a way for the Colin Sexton-Darius Garland backcourt not to give up 100 points per game, the season will be a success. Keep an eye on a Kevin Love trade even though he continues to say he wants to stay in Cleveland and see this rebuild through.

Next: Southeast Division

Previous: Atlantic Division

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