NBA Central Division preview: Everything you need to know
X-Factors, storylines and more for the Bucks, Cavs, Pacers, Bulls, and Pistons.
The Central Division, apart from the potential juggernaut Milwaukee Bucks, represents the middle class of the Eastern Conference, which increasingly feels wide open.
In part 2 of our NBA preview, here’s a look at the teams in this division:
Milwaukee Bucks
What happened last season:
As usual, the Bucks were a great regular season team and finished first in East. But many things went wrong in a hugely disappointing first round loss against the eight-seed Miami Heat. Giannis Antetokounmpo missed most of the first three games. Jimmy Butler made seemingly every shot he took. The Bucks’ half-court offense fell apart at the seams. They inexplicably blew two straight fourth quarter leads in Games 4 and 5 to lose.
What’s new this season:
Well, I’m sure you’ve heard. The Bucks surprisingly revamped their big three and traded Jrue Holiday for Damian Lillard. In the process, they sacrificed defense and depth for a massive offensive upgrade. Grayson Allen is gone, replaced by Malik Beasley, and there are few solid wing defenders on this team.
Also, longtime coach Mike Budenholzer is out, and Adrian Griffin, a former assistant under Nick Nurse in Toronto, is here.
One concern:
Who guards Jayson Tatum and Jimmy Butler? Holiday and Wesley Matthews are gone. Jae Crowder and young Marjon Beauchamp are candidates. Pat Connaughton can take elite guards. Can Giannis handle more responsibility on the perimeter?
Expectations:
High! The Bucks want to win the championship and it will be a disappointment if they don’t at least make the Finals. They are on a collision course with Boston in the East.
Chicago Bulls
What happened last season:
With Lonzo Ball out all year, the big three iteration of the Bulls declined and went 40-42, finishing tenth in the East. They still managed to beat the Raptors in the first play-in game, then gave Miami a run for their money before falling in the second play-in game.
Somehow, the Bulls with Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic finished as a below-average offensive team but ranked fifth in defense. That has never been explained to me.
What’s new this season:
Not much overall. The Bulls are bringing back a similar cast, adding a pair of 3-and-D players: Torrey Craig and Jevon Carter. Those are both very solid rotation players who provide quality defense.
One concern:
At some point this team has to be more than the sum of its parts. They have offensive talent, but ranked 24th in offensive rating last year. They have to find a way to mesh the three stars more effectively. A quality point guard would help — the hope is that an improved Coby White can fill that role.
Expectations:
I actually think this team’s perimeter defense can be very good again, led by the all-world defender Alex Caruso. But I don’t see a world where the Bulls are much better than mediocre. This feels like the last chance for this core, and trades could come if they’re not performing by midseason.
Cleveland Cavaliers
What happened last season:
The Cavs, in the first year of the Donovan Mitchell era, took the vaunted leap and finished fourth in the East, led by an impenetrable defense. But they collapsed in the playoffs amid horrendous spacing, poor rebounding, and a general lack of offensive production. The Knicks exposed the limitations of Cleveland’s twin towers set-up and, in particular, Evan Mobley’s offensive weaknesses.
What’s new this season:
They made a point of adding role players who can space the floor. Max Strus will fly off screens and likely start at small forward. Georges Niang is a versatile pick-and-pop big off the bench. They won’t have to rely quite as much on the weak-shooting Isaac Okoro.
One concern:
Finding ways to unlock Mitchell and Darius Garland when both Mobley and Jarrett Allen are on the floor is crucial. Can Mobley make floaters and complete on-time passes on the short roll when defenses trap the star guards?
Expectations:
I see no reason why Cleveland can’t finish in the top four of the East again and get home-court advantage in the first round. Their growth will be measured in the playoffs.
Indiana Pacers
What happened last season:
The Pacers couldn’t quite qualify for the play-in tournament as injuries sabotaged them, but they looked like a fun team as Tyrese Haliburton played at an All-Star level all year. Haliburton’s whip-smart passing and shot creation helped elevate a group of promising young players, including Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, and Bennedict Mathurin.
What’s new this season:
Most notably, they gave Bruce Brown, fresh off a championship with Denver, a lucrative contract. They also brought in backup power forward Obi Toppin and drafted Jarace Walker at the same position. Buddy Hield is still here, but may be traded at some point.
Brown, a do-it-all defender and expert cutter, will fit perfectly with Haliburton’s passing.
One concern:
Haliburton is a proven All-Star centerpiece. Now, the Pacers need another quality shot-creator to emerge next to their very solid cast of role players (Brown, Myles Turner, Hield). Mathurin, a freight train of a sixth man, is the most likely candidate. Nembhard, though, is underrated — a versatile defender with a burgeoning offensive skillset.
Expectations:
Projecting them for a playoff spot might be getting ahead of ourselves, but provided health (especially of Haliburton), they could finish in the .500 range and make the play-in.
Detroit Pistons
What happened last season:
It was more or less another lost season in Detroit. Cade Cunningham went down early with a shin injury and couldn’t return. The hope the Pistons had entering the season with Bojan Bogdanovic in the fold dissipated quickly.
What’s new this season:
They drafted Ausar Thompson fifth overall and added two proven vets in Monte Morris and Joe Harris. They retained their stable of high-drafted centers who mostly can’t play together — Jalen Duren, James Wiseman, Marvin Bagley III, and Isaiah Stewart.
One concern:
Can they find a way to space the floor for Cunningham and Jaden Ivey? All the buzz has been positive about Cunningham’s return — he looked great for the Team USA select squad this summer — but the Pistons need spacing to maximize his skillset. Teams will go under screens for Ivey, and it remains to be seen whether Stewart’s attempted three-point renaissance will make him a playable power forward or not.
Expectations:
At the very least, a healthy Cunningham and some better role players should make this team more watchable on a nightly basis. New coach Monty Williams is one of the most creative offensive coaches in the NBA. But they’re not ready yet for any real contention.