Dairyland Express
Fansided

Milwaukee Bucks will battle for the Central Division

By Micheal Mortensen

MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 20: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks walks to the sideline prior to the opening tip against the Boston Celtics of game three of round one of the Eastern Conference playoffs at the Bradley Center on April 20, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 20: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks walks to the sideline prior to the opening tip against the Boston Celtics of game three of round one of the Eastern Conference playoffs at the Bradley Center on April 20, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Central Division will be a three-headed monster this year between the Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons.

Overall, the Central division will be the Indiana Pacers to lose. They are the outright favorites, particularly after last seasons success. The Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons will give them some trouble, but the Pacers will still come out on top.

With last year’s low expectations after the whole Paul George drama, the Pacers finished 48-34, good enough for second in the division behind Cleveland and a fifth seed overall in the Eastern Conference.

The Pacers released Lance Stephenson and brought back Thaddeus Young this summer. They also brought in a solid back-up in Kyle O’Quinn and won the Tyreke Evans sweepstakes, a solid two-way guard. The rotation for the Pacers will be great to watch, so long as guys are willing to accept a role like last seasons roster. Victor Oladipo was sensational and will look to improve on his success. But he’ll need help going forward.

The Bucks have arguably the best player in the East in Giannis Antetokounmpo. With combo forward Khris Middleton helping in the frontcourt, outside of that the Bucks don’t have another reliable piece to fall on.

Eric Bledsoe is too inconsistent and doesn’t really help on the defensive side of the ball. The young talent on the roster itself will improve so it remains to be seen who else can step up and help the young budding stars in Milwaukee.

Among the divisions best, the Pistons will surprise many. Many don’t realize, or just forgot, that the Pistons were right there at the end of the season trying to make it in the playoffs. Finishing only four games behind the eighth seed Washington Wizards, and just five games behind the seventh seed Bucks.

This team just got the coach of the year in Dwane Casey, boast a stout frontcourt with Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond to go along with a hopefully healthy Reggie Jackson for a full season. These pieces alone will push this team over the edge and into contention in the East. Bench production remains a concern though.

Between the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers, both being bottom dwellers this year, it’s hard to say who will have a worse season.

The Cavaliers went all in on Kevin Love, giving him a huge contract. Unless he returns to his Minnesota Timberwolves form, that might have been a mistake for Cleveland. Collin Sexton looked poised and ready to take the reins for the Cavaliers during Summer League, but overall, the Cavaliers roster is bleak.

The Bulls boast a couple of young prospering talents as well with Lauri Markkanen and Kris Dunn. They also added Wendell Carter Jr. in the draft and Jabari Parker in free agency. There won’t be many questions about scoring for the Bulls, but the defense will be the scary part. No one on that roster has shown much in that regard.

The Central Division could easily be the most fun to keep tabs on in the Eastern Conference this upcoming season. Especially since LeBron James will no longer have a role in who makes it out of the East for the first time in eight years.

Home/Milwaukee Bucks