Central division preview

 

 

 

Best PG  

 

 

1. Mil – Russell Westbrook

2. Cle – Tony Parker

3. Chi – Kemba Walker

4. Ind – Brandon Knight

5. Det  - Norris Cole

 

Holy rookie starters!!!  The division has 3, but until they can prove they belong, the cream of the crop is Westbrook and Parker.  Westbrook is a top 5 point guard in the league while Parker is quietly consistent.  Give Russell the top spot as we expect to see him have a 17 pt, 8 ast average this season.

Best SG

 

 

1. Ind – Eric Gordon

2. Cle – Caron Butler

3. Det – Arron Afflalo

4. Chi – Kirk Hinrich

5. Mil – Gerald Henderson

 

Pretty close contest here, but EG edges Afflalo and Butler in a close matchup.  EG can also play the point, and though he is undersized at the 2, he still lights it up night after night.  Afflalo has solid defense and is great from 3, but needs to work on his mid range shot.  Butler would be better suited for the SF position, but when playing next to Lebron, you do your best to get minutes wherever you can help out.

 

Best SF

 

 

1. Cle – Lebron James

2. Mil – Paul Pierce

3. Ind – Dahntay Jones

4. Det – Boris Diaw

5. Chi – Jimmy Butler

 

Paul Pierce is outstanding, and in most divisions, he would be the consensus pick.  Not in this division, however, as King James reigns supreme.  The best SF in the league calls this division home.  He can get you a triple double on any given night.  He’s the most difficult player in the league to stop.  I can go on and on about Lebron, but no need, because all of you already know!

Best PF

 

 

1. Mil – Dirk Nowitzki

2. Ind – Blake Griffin

3. Cle – Al Jefferson

4. Chi – Elton Brand

5. Det – Anthony Randolph

 

The most competitive position in the division is at the PF.  You can’t go wrong when the worst of the 5 is Randolph.  Blake will eventually grow into the #1 choice, but not until Dirk retires.  Dirk is Mr. Clutch, scoring from everywhere on the court.  Adept at posting up and jump shots, Dirk really can’t be stopped in a half court set.

Best C

 

 

1. Ind – Tim Duncan

2. Chi – Roy Hibbert

3. Cle – Serge Ibaka

4. Mil – JaVale McGee

5. Det – Marcus Camby

 

Tim Duncan leads the big men in this division.  He’s really the only one that can score, rebound, block and play solid D.  All the others lack in at least one of the categories, mostly offensively.  So, Duncan gets the nod due to his all around prowess.  Hibbert, McGee, and Ibaka are all young up and comers, so Duncan may not reign as #1 much longer.

Best trade (so far)

 

Detroit – Zach Randolph for Anthony Randolph, Norris Cole, Kyle Singler and 2 2^nd round picks

 

Out with the old and in with the new.  At first glance, it seems like Detroit took a step back, losing the 15 and 7 that Zach gets night after night.  But the Pistons got younger, and faster.  Zach was a defensive liability.  Instead, the Pistons get way younger, with A Rand and Cole taking on starting positions, and Singler poised to make his leap into the NBA next year( he’s playing overseason this season).  Throw in the 2 draft picks in one of the deeper drafts next year and Detroit takes home the best trade honors.

Worst trade (so far)

 

 

Mil – Horford, Harrington, Beaubois, and E. Williams for Dirk

 

When you first look at this, you think “No way, he got Dirk, this can’t be a bad trade.”  Horford IS out for the season, but Harrington is killing it in the NBA.  Beaubois and Williams are young and have lots of potential.  Horford, when healthy, is one of the premier centers in the league.  Dirk also comes with a $19 million salary and is 33.  We see this as a win now move, but hopefully Milwaukee didn’t mortgage their future in the process.

Best FA acquisition

 

 

 

Cle – Caron Butler

 

Cleveland has made waves in free agency by signing 6 players and matching an offer sheet this off season.  Caron was one of the best players available in free agency, and he chose to go to the Cavs.  Caron will instantly make this team better, even though they are already pretty darn good.  Don’t let last season’s CBS rankings fool you, Caron was the most important piece to Dallas during the regular NBA season, and if Caron had been healthy, there may not have been any doubt about who would have won the Finals last year.  This guy has a lot of fight left in him and will do damage in the NLL.

Worst FA acquisition

 

Chi – Larry Hughes

 

Larry Hughes is really a player in stark decline, but the Bulls signed him anyway.  The signing of Hughes wasn’t as bad as the fact they cut him 11 days later.  Paying someone for the season when they aren’t even suiting up for you is always the best way to end up in a worst list.

Team on the rise

 

 

Indiana

 

My sleeper team this year, we expect the Pacers to challenge the Cavs and the Bucks for the division title.  They have great young talent with Blake, EG and Knight.  TD still can hold down the center position.  Jones is a lock down defender.  O’Neal, Davis and Nick Young are solid off the bench.  We think Nick Young could win 6^th man of the year.  They are starting a rookie PG, but he’s more of a pass first guy, so he will make sure the Pacer’s scorers are happy.

 

Team on the decline

 

 

Milwaukee

 

Milwaukee had a 55-27 record last season, but we just can’t see them doing as well with the additions Cleveland and Indiana have made.  They are still a playoff team and will be a tough team to beat, but we wonder if old age will catch up to Dirk and Pierce.

Potential breakout players

 

 

Mil – Gerald Henderson

 

Gerald Henderson is already having a breakout season with Charlotte in the NBA.  NLL translation = watch out!!!  Henderson is a potent mid range scorer that also loves to finish at the rim.  He’s a high flyer that rebounds well and can play solid defense.  We expect big things now that Milwaukee has inserted him into the starting lineup.

 

 

Det – Anthony Randolph

 

This guy has all the makings to be a force in the NLL, but has yet to put it all together.  This could be the year, as he takes the floor as the Pistons starting PF this season.  Randolph is long and athletic at 6’11, but needs to be more consistent in the post and from mid range.  He’s a wonderful weak side defender and can usually alter lots of shots near the rim.  If he figures it all out, he could be the piece in the paint Detroit is looking for.

Rookies to watch

 

 

Chi – Kemba Walker

 

Kemba may be a rookie to the league, but the man sure can score.  He can play either PG or SG and will log significant minutes on a young Bulls team.  A younger version of Russell Westbrook, Kemba is lightning fast and can pull up on a dime.  Look for him to hit some game winning shots down the stretch.

 

 

Ind – Brandon Knight

 

Another PG to watch is Brandon Knight of Indiana.  Even though Indiana has not really been mentioned much this year, they take the floor with lots of talent.  Knight is a perfect fit for this team, as he looks to distribute first, shoot second.  With TD, Blake and EG on the court, look for Brandon to be in the top 10 in assists.

GM to watch

 

 

Cleveland

 

GM Alejandro was not afraid to mix it up, and we expect to see more wheeling and dealing before the season is over.  Look for him to spruce up the bench.  He may even try to make one more FA signing before the preseason is done.  He’s put together a solid squad and has the Cavs fans thinking Finals or bust!

 

Predicted standings

 

Cleveland         43-23

Indiana             42-24  

Milwaukee       39-27

Detroit             20-46

Chicago            18- 48