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NBA: Breaking down the Central Division for 2014-15

By Phil Naessens

Apr 27, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) and Washington Wizards point guard John Wall (2) fight for a rebound during the second quarter in game four of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) and Washington Wizards point guard John Wall (2) fight for a rebound during the second quarter in game four of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NBA Central Division is arguably the strongest in the Eastern Conference and the vastly improved Cleveland Cavaliers seem to be everyone’s favorite to win the East. Are they really the team to beat? Here’s how I see the Central Division shaping up in 2014-2015.

5). Milwaukee Bucks

2013-2014 Record: 15-67

New Arrivals: Head Coach Jason Kidd, Jabari Parker, Kendall Marshall, Jerryd Bayless, Jared Dudley

Departures: No one significant

The Milwaukee Bucks traded for Jason Kidd. Can he save the Bucks?

The way I see it: For the life of me I have no idea why the Bucks would trade a bag of day old donuts for Jason Kidd but they did and Bucks fans will just have to deal with it. The guy has ZERO track record building a team from the ground up and no experience whatsoever grooming young players like Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo and head cases like Larry Sanders.

I look for the Bucks to continue to rebuild this season with Ersan Ilyasova and Larry Sanders being dealt for draft picks and the continuing emergence of Antetokounmpo as a force to be reckoned with in the Association. I really like PF John Henson and look forward to watching his game develop. I also like the way Brandon Knight began to assert himself at times last season and I hope Kidd gives this young fella the green light to do his thing.  This team will be exciting at times to watch and Parker looks to be the real deal. Even though I tabbed them last in the division the Milwaukee Bucks are must see TV.

4). Indiana Pacers

May 28, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) reacts after game five against the Miami Heat of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats Miami 93-90. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
May 28, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) reacts after game five against the Miami Heat of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats Miami 93-90. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

2013-2014 Record: 56-26

New Arrivals: Rodney Stuckey, C.J. Miles

Departed: Lance Stephenson, Evan Turner

The Indiana Pacers are the two time NBA Eastern Conference runner-up and poised to make it a third when a freak injury to Paul George left this team on offensive life support. The big question is what’s next?

How I see it: Frank Vogel teams will always play defense and they are going to have to as this team wasn’t a very good offensive team to begin with. Take away Paul George and Lance Stephenson all your left with David West and his 14 points per game as your number one scoring option. That’s not good. Point Guard George Hill is going to have to assert himself into the offense and Roy Hibbert is going to have to return to his 2013-2014 first half form for this team to have a chance at even making the playoffs.

What I think will happen is General Manager Larry Bird will probably scrap the season and look to deal Roy Hibbert and maybe even David West. George Hill could also find himself being dealt and the Pacers will hopefully draft well and wait until George returns and take it from there.

3). Detroit Pistons

2013-2014 Record: 29-53

New Arrivals: Coach Stan Van Gundy, Jodie Meeks, Cartier Martin, D.J. Augustine, Caron Butler, Aaron Gray

Departed: Chauncey Billups, Rodney Stuckey, Peyton Siva

Several pundits predicted the 2013-2014 Detroit Pistons would make the playoffs but this merry band of underachievers had another miserable season. The Pistons hired Stan Van Gundy to fix the mess former GM Joe Dumars made of the Pistons.

How I see it: It’s hard to believe that a team with Brandon Jennings, Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe and Josh Smith could fail to reach the playoffs in an awful Eastern Conference but somehow they managed it. In comes brand new Chief cook and bottle washer Van Gundy and so far he seems to have made the right moves in signing veterans D.J. Augustine, Jodie Meeks and Caron Butler to an already pretty good, at least on paper, Pistons roster.

How Van Gundy will get along with notorious coach killer Smith is anyone’s guess but I look for a trade if Smith fails to do what Van Gundy expects him to do. Both Drummond and Monroe should benefit from Van Gundy and if Jennings should be able to flourish under Van Gundy’s offense. After a very good 2013-2014 season with the Chicago Bulls Augustin is an incredible pickup and Meeks and Butler should be capable scorers off the bench. This is a good team folks it’s just too bad they play in the loaded Central division.

2). Cleveland Cavaliers

Aug 26, 2014; Independence, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers player Kevin Love talks to the media at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 26, 2014; Independence, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers player Kevin Love talks to the media at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

2013-2014 Record: 33-49

New Arrivals: LeBron James, Mike Miller, James Jones, Shawn Marion, Kevin Love, Brendan Haywood, Coach David Blatt

Departed: Anthony Bennett, Spencer Hawes, Luol Deng, Jarrett Jack, Tyler Zeller, Alonzo Gee,

After four consecutive losing seasons in Cleveland the LeBron James era begins again in and that man has put together a fairly impressive squad but will it be enough to win the Eastern Conference?

How I see it: New Head Coach LeBron James, oops, I meant David Blatt has some challenges ahead of him in Cleveland. The first one will be getting Kevin Love to play defense. The second one will be keeping Dion Waiters and Kyrie Irving from killing each other. The third will be creating enough touches to keep everyone happy. Luckily for Blatt he’s an incredibly creative offensive minded coach and he has LeBron James and a few other cagey veterans to handle all the messy stuff like getting these young guns to fall in line with the program. The one thing the Cavaliers haven’t really upgraded on is a solid rim defender but they do have Anderson Varejao and Tristan Thompson. These guys aren’t as bad as people make them out to be but I’m sure Cleveland will look for someone better. We’ll see soon enough how it all comes together.

1). Chicago Bulls

2013-2014 Record: 48-34

New Arrivals: Pau Gasol, Doug McDermott, Nikola Mirotic, Aaron Brooks

Departed: D.J. Augustine, Carlos Boozer,

The Chicago Bulls lost Derrick Rose for the season and still made the playoffs. The Bulls signed Pau Gasol and are looking to make their way to the 2014-2015 NBA Championship.

How I see it: Rose said it best when he said this is the most talented Chicago team he’s played on and I believe him. The Chicago Bulls had two weaknesses last season; at point guard and at power forward and a healthy Derrick Rose and the newly signed Pau Gasol should handle that. It’s going to be fun watching Gasol play alongside Joakim Noah on both ends of the floor. Taj Gibson had a nice 2013-2014 and him coming off the bench must make Coach Tom Thibodeau one happy camper. Look for Yugoslavian newcomer Nikola Mirotic to make some serious noise as could rookie Doug McDermott and let’s not forget returning shooting guard Jimmy Butler. Plus these Bulls play bruising in your face defense for 48 minutes a night. This team my friend has it all and if Rose can manage to remain healthy look out NBA Eastern Conference.

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