2006 - 2007 NBA Preview: Central Division
Now it is time for the Central Division, by far the deepest division in the NBA. All five teams have a shot at the postseason, but I see only four teams making it.
Central Division:
1. Detroit Pistons (2005-06 record: 64-18)
Key Additions: Nazr Mohammed (free agent), Ronald Murray (free agent)
Key Losses: Ben Wallace (free agent)
The loss of Wallace hurts in more ways than one. It weakens the Pistons’ defense, while a bona fide contender in Chicago get stronger. This is still a strong team that should be the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, having won 12 more games than the Heat last year. However, the gap will close. 60 wins is probably the most this team can expect, and teams like Cleveland and Chicago are ready to take big steps. Where losing Wallace will really show up is in the playoffs. Still a team that should breeze through the regular season, they will miss his defense in the post. Mohammed is a nice addition, and Murray should provide a spark off the bench. Gradually, whether intentional or not, the Pistons’ philosophy is continuing to change. Flip Saunders opened up the offense because it is his style. With the departure of Wallace, scoring more points is a necessity.
Key Additions: Shannon Brown (draft)
Key Losses: Ronald Murray (free agent)
In the toughest division in the NBA, I give the Cavaliers the slight edge over the up-and-coming Bulls and the always-dangerous Pacers. The Cavaliers do not have the same level of talent as the other teams, but they do have LeBron James. That alone is the reason they should place ahead of everyone in the division except for the Pistons. If Damon Jones had performed as they had hoped last season, the gap between the Cavs and the Pistons would have been much narrower. The team played significantly better when Murray joined the team by providing some needed scoring. With Flip gone, the Cleveland will look to Brown to fill that role, despite the fact that he is a rookie. If he can adjust quickly to the NBA pace, the team will be in better shape. As long as he is ready by the postseason, it would be hard to complain.
Key Additions: Ben Wallace (free agent), P.J. Brown (trade), Tyrus Thomas (draft), Thabo Sefolosha (draft)
Key Losses: Tyson Chandler (free agent)
Slowly but surely, these Bulls are starting to look like the Pistons teams of the last few years. The addition of Wallace makes it nearly complete. Only two things are missing. The Bulls need a consistent, go-to scorer as well as stronger chemistry. Defensively, no other team in the NBA was better at keeping the other team from making shots. On offense, the scoring is balanced, but almost too balanced. No player averaged more than Ben Gordon’s 16.9 points per game, but he was not always starting. Someone needs to step up and become “the man.” Luol Deng is the other candidate besides Gordon to assume that role. The best player no one has heard of is Andres Nocioni. After the All-Star break, he averaged over 15 points and nearly eight rebounds per game. He could be the top sixth man in the League this season while backing up both forward positions. If someone steps up on offense and there is not a noticeable drop-off with the second team on the court, the Bulls have a chance to reach heights not seen since Michael Jordan left town.
Key Additions: Al Harrington (trade), Marquis Daniels (trade)
Key Losses: Anthony Johnson (trade), Peja Stojakovic (trade)
Ron Artest is gone, and with him goes the combustibility that has hurt the Pacers each of the last two seasons. His replacement, Stojakovic, was replaced by Harrington, who comes back to the team that drafted him with the experience of being the go-to guy gained from his stay in Atlanta. Another potentially volatile situation was avoided with the trade of Johnson to Dallas in a trade that netted the Pacers Daniels. Larry Bird must have decided to give the team to Jamaal Tinsley one last time and having a younger backup rather than older, and more outspoken, one. When healthy, Tinsley is a solid team general who will distribute the ball to Jermaine O’Neal, Stephen Jackson, and Harrington. O’Neal’s health will go a long way in determining how the season plays out. Even though it will be tough for them to finish higher in their division, they will be a low-seeded team that no one wants to face.
5
Key Additions: Charlie Villanueva (trade)
Key Losses: T.J. Ford (trade), Jamaal Magliore (trade)
Many people are saying that the Raptors got swindled when they traded a big (Villanueva) for a small (Ford). While I do think that Toronto was smart to make the deal, I also think it was a tremendous deal for Milwaukee. Maurice Williams should have a breakout year starting at the point guard position after producing in a backup role. Meanwhile, Villanueva slides into the power forward spot, pushing Andrew Bogut into the center position, vacated by Magliore, where he will be more comfortable. The lineup the Bucks will send out there is one of the most balanced and talented lineups one to five in the League, but unless Bogut or Villanueva blossoms into a superstar this season, they will likely just miss the playoffs after fighting hard in the toughest of the six divisions.
Central Division:
1. Detroit Pistons (2005-06 record: 64-18)
Key Additions: Nazr Mohammed (free agent), Ronald Murray (free agent)
Key Losses: Ben Wallace (free agent)
The loss of Wallace hurts in more ways than one. It weakens the Pistons’ defense, while a bona fide contender in Chicago get stronger. This is still a strong team that should be the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, having won 12 more games than the Heat last year. However, the gap will close. 60 wins is probably the most this team can expect, and teams like Cleveland and Chicago are ready to take big steps. Where losing Wallace will really show up is in the playoffs. Still a team that should breeze through the regular season, they will miss his defense in the post. Mohammed is a nice addition, and Murray should provide a spark off the bench. Gradually, whether intentional or not, the Pistons’ philosophy is continuing to change. Flip Saunders opened up the offense because it is his style. With the departure of Wallace, scoring more points is a necessity.
Key Additions: Shannon Brown (draft)
Key Losses: Ronald Murray (free agent)
In the toughest division in the NBA, I give the Cavaliers the slight edge over the up-and-coming Bulls and the always-dangerous Pacers. The Cavaliers do not have the same level of talent as the other teams, but they do have LeBron James. That alone is the reason they should place ahead of everyone in the division except for the Pistons. If Damon Jones had performed as they had hoped last season, the gap between the Cavs and the Pistons would have been much narrower. The team played significantly better when Murray joined the team by providing some needed scoring. With Flip gone, the Cleveland will look to Brown to fill that role, despite the fact that he is a rookie. If he can adjust quickly to the NBA pace, the team will be in better shape. As long as he is ready by the postseason, it would be hard to complain.
Key Additions: Ben Wallace (free agent), P.J. Brown (trade), Tyrus Thomas (draft), Thabo Sefolosha (draft)
Key Losses: Tyson Chandler (free agent)
Slowly but surely, these Bulls are starting to look like the Pistons teams of the last few years. The addition of Wallace makes it nearly complete. Only two things are missing. The Bulls need a consistent, go-to scorer as well as stronger chemistry. Defensively, no other team in the NBA was better at keeping the other team from making shots. On offense, the scoring is balanced, but almost too balanced. No player averaged more than Ben Gordon’s 16.9 points per game, but he was not always starting. Someone needs to step up and become “the man.” Luol Deng is the other candidate besides Gordon to assume that role. The best player no one has heard of is Andres Nocioni. After the All-Star break, he averaged over 15 points and nearly eight rebounds per game. He could be the top sixth man in the League this season while backing up both forward positions. If someone steps up on offense and there is not a noticeable drop-off with the second team on the court, the Bulls have a chance to reach heights not seen since Michael Jordan left town.
Key Additions: Al Harrington (trade), Marquis Daniels (trade)
Key Losses: Anthony Johnson (trade), Peja Stojakovic (trade)
Ron Artest is gone, and with him goes the combustibility that has hurt the Pacers each of the last two seasons. His replacement, Stojakovic, was replaced by Harrington, who comes back to the team that drafted him with the experience of being the go-to guy gained from his stay in Atlanta. Another potentially volatile situation was avoided with the trade of Johnson to Dallas in a trade that netted the Pacers Daniels. Larry Bird must have decided to give the team to Jamaal Tinsley one last time and having a younger backup rather than older, and more outspoken, one. When healthy, Tinsley is a solid team general who will distribute the ball to Jermaine O’Neal, Stephen Jackson, and Harrington. O’Neal’s health will go a long way in determining how the season plays out. Even though it will be tough for them to finish higher in their division, they will be a low-seeded team that no one wants to face.
5
Key Additions: Charlie Villanueva (trade)
Key Losses: T.J. Ford (trade), Jamaal Magliore (trade)
Many people are saying that the Raptors got swindled when they traded a big (Villanueva) for a small (Ford). While I do think that Toronto was smart to make the deal, I also think it was a tremendous deal for Milwaukee. Maurice Williams should have a breakout year starting at the point guard position after producing in a backup role. Meanwhile, Villanueva slides into the power forward spot, pushing Andrew Bogut into the center position, vacated by Magliore, where he will be more comfortable. The lineup the Bucks will send out there is one of the most balanced and talented lineups one to five in the League, but unless Bogut or Villanueva blossoms into a superstar this season, they will likely just miss the playoffs after fighting hard in the toughest of the six divisions.
posted by Josh at 8:34 AM
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