Central Division Preview
By Scott Rickenbach
Leading up the NBA season we will take a quick look at each team. A good way to do that is to look at their number of wins last season and compare it to what odds makers are projecting for them for this season. We continue our 6-part preview with the Central Division.
Team (2008-09 Wins / 2009-10 Projected Wins)
Chicago Bulls (41 / 40.5) – The Bulls are projected to stay about the same as you can see. However, will that actually happen? A big key will be Luol Deng. He must return to “pre-injury form” because, if not, how will Chicago make up for the loss of Ben Gordon? He was a big key to the success the Bulls had against Boston before bowing out in the playoffs. How successful can this team be without him? Keep in mind, Derrick Rose was fantastic in his rookie season. Also, the Bulls picked up John Salmons and Brad Miller late in the season. That later helped facilitate the 12-4 run that Chicago went on to finish out the regular season. Kirk Hinrich needs to bounce back too after missing 30+ games last season. Keep an eye on how some of these guys respond early in the season because that could be a key to whether the Bulls are going to be a play on or play against team.
Cleveland Cavaliers (66 / 61.5) – Could Shaquille O’Neal actually hurt the Cavs chances. Many think it’s the key to getting the Cavs to the NBA Finals but others feel that incorporating him into the Cleveland offense actually could disrupt the scoring rhythm of LeBron James. In other words, you can see an expected drop in number of wins this season and this has a lot do with it. O’Neal could wear down and he’s still a big player at times but other times he shows his age of 37 years. Additionally, Delonte West has been dealing with personal problems in camp and that could certainly wear on the team as a distraction. How focused will he be? Keep in mind his playmaking and defense has been a big part of this team.
Detroit Pistons (39 / 41.5) – A slight improvement, as you can see, is being forecast for the Pistons this season. However, where is that coming from exactly? There’s been so much turnover with Joe Dumars as general manager. Allen Iverson came and went. Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess are now gone and plus Ben Wallace is now back. Ben Gordon is certainly a key add and Charlie Villanueva should fortify the front court. However, his defense must improve. Also, with a new coach in the mix as well, just how quickly can the Pistons gel? They could be a team to play against early but play on later if the pieces come together as the front office is hoping. Detroit’s backcourt is solid but frontcourt defense is a concern.
Indiana Pacers (36 / 34.5) – A slight drop in win totals is being forecast here but the scrappy Pacers, with some improvement on the defensive end, can absolutely make some headway this season. Troy Murphy had a big season, Danny Granger is rock solid, and if point guard TJ Ford can stay healthy, this team could “click” better than many are expecting. Mike Dunleavy and Tyler Hansbrough are currently sidelined and that is a concern entering the season. The signing of Dahntay Jones is a key to improvement on the defensive end as that’s his specialty. If Dunvleavy is out for an extended period this team could be negatively impacted. He’s such a smart player and a solid defender.
Milwaukee Bucks (34 / 25.5) – The Bucks just continue to disappoint. Michael Redd is the key in the backcourt but injuries have derailed him. Andrew Bogut is the key player for the Bucks in the paint and that right there should tell you a lot about this team. There’s just not a lot there for Milwaukee entering the 2009-10 season. Small forward Richard Jefferson is now with the Spurs. Combo forward Charlie Villanueva is now with the Pistons. Guard Ramon Sessions (4th leading scorer last season) is now with Minnesota. The big problem with the Bucks is who is going to step up on offense if Redd gets shutdown by opponents focusing on him. Worse yet, what if Redd gets hurt? Luke Ridnour at point guard will be relied upon to do more but will he be able to? With Redd trying to come back from knee surgery and lead this young team we just don’t see being able to trust this Bucks team for much production this season.