- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The Central Division has not one, but two possible contenders to steal the NBA title away from the Miami Heat, but the talent pool runs much deeper than just the Pacers and the Bulls.
Read on for the division predictions.
1st – Indiana Pacers
The Pacers gave Miami all they could handle in the Eastern Conference Finals last season, ultimately paying the price for not having an alpha-dog who could take over in Game 7.
They have improved markedly this season by adding a healthy Danny Granger, Luis Scola and Chris Copeland to their rotation.
The addition of Scola figures to be huge, as the Indiana can now throw a front court containing Roy Hibbert, David West, Granger, Scola and Paul George at any one time.
If George takes the next step up to become an A grader, Indiana take the next step this season and make the NBA finals, with the title a very real possibility.
2nd – Chicago Bulls
Derrick Rose polarises opinions amongst NBA fans – is he is a superstar or did he just have a superstar season when winning the MVP in 2011?
The one thing that is without question is that he needs to return to his best if the Bulls have a chance of returning to the finals.
Joakim Noah is an elite NBA big man, and Carlos Boozer provides consistent support up front. Jimmy Butler took a quantum leap in the playoffs last season and, if he can play shooting guard, will give the Bulls one of the best starting fives in the league.
If Taj Gibson, Mike Dunleavy Jr and Tony Snell can provide quality backup minutes and the starting five stays healthy, the Bulls are set for a deep playoff run.
They may yet push Miami and Indiana if they can match their elite defense with an offensive punch.
3rd – Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs may be one of the most entertaining and watchable teams in the league this season.
Led by budding mega-star Kyrie Irving, who is ably supported by Anderson Varejeo, Jarrett Jack, Earl Clark, Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters, the Cavs could be headed back to the post-season.
Their ceiling may well rest in the inconsistent hands of Andrew Bynum, who is an all-NBA centre when healthy and motivated, but the fact is he is hardly ever either or those let alone both.
If Irving and Bynum play a majority of the season, the Cavs will make the playoffs. If not, then they will wallow in mediocrity.
4th – Detroit Pistons
The Pistons have shaken things up and taken huge risks in signing free-agents Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings.
Smith is an NBA enigma, ridiculously talented but seemingly interested in playing his career in second gear. Jennings is an elite offensive talent, but may be a shooting guard trapped in a point guard’s body.
One has to wonder whether that is what a team needs when it has Smith, Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond demanding the ball down low.
Another question that must be asked is whether these three bigs can play together.
Drummond has as much talent as any young player in the league, and it will be intriguing to see whether his development continues at such a rapid rate while playing behind Monroe.
Rookie Kentavious Caldwell-Pope figures to demand attention in Detroit, and new coach M Cheeks may need to be amateur psychologist should Smith and Jennings revert to becoming the locker room troubles they have long been rumoured to be.
The talent is there, but can they mesh?
5th – Milwaukee Bucks
Mediocrity, thy name is Milwaukee. Is there any other team that consistently fights for the eighth spot, but never threatens to go higher, nor slip far enough to get a decent shot at the lottery?
They have turned their entire back court over, with O.J. Mayo, Brandon Knight, Luke Ridnour and Gary Neal on board and likely to share the minutes.
While this is a solid rotation, when Mayo is clearly the best player the team will struggle to compete with the best teams – or even the average ones.
Up front you can look for Larry Sanders to take a huge step towards being an elite big, while the wildly inconsistent Ersan Ilyasova promises to polarise fans as he dominates as many games as he goes invisible in.
Roster depth and talent makes for a finish between 10-12 in the East, and at best an outside shot at getting the high lottery pick that this franchise needs to make it relevant again.
Build your own ultimate team! Pick your key players and take a shot at big cash prizes every day with Draftstars. For great odds on NBA games every day head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.