Central Division Standings 1/28/09
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 35-8
2. Detroit Pistons 24-19
3. Milwaukee Bucks 22-26
4. Chicago Bulls 18-27
5. Indiana Pacers 17-28
Cleveland Cavaliers
Almost everything has gone right so far for the Cleveland Cavaliers this season. LeBron James is the first half MVP and the players around him have all exceeded expectations. Mo Williams has flourished as the PG and has proven to be a great complement to LeB! ron. Big Z has been riddled with injuries, but Andersen Varejao has stepped up and been a key for this team. Ben Wallace remains an active rebounder and G Delonte West was having a great season up until his recent injury. The Cavs look like one of the NBA's best teams up to this point and I consider them in the top three with Boston and LA. King James will continue to be the man in Cleveland and I fully expect him to win the MVP. The Cavs have a shot at the #1 seed and if they get it they will likely make the NBA Finals. The Cavs are currently 21-0 at home on the season. Cleveland is in good shape thus far.
Detroit Pistons
New head coach Michael Curry has been unable to succeed as his predecessor Flip Saunders had. An early trade of Chauncey Billups to Denver for Allen Iverson has been a disaster. Since acquiring A.I., Detroit is a .500 team. Billups was the leader of this team and since his departure the Pistons have been in a downward spiral. Hopes for another division title look bleak with the way Cleveland has been playing. The Pistons will be in the playoffs, but could make an early exit for the first time in a while. Rasheed Wallace could be traded before the deadline. Richard Hamilton has been moved to the 6th man role, which was a mistake. Youngster Rodney Stuckey has been phenomenal and should start, but A.I. should come off the bench. A.I. will likely move on after the season because of free agency and then Detroit can look to reload. Do not expect a championship for the Pistons this season.
Milwaukee has been overachieving this season, but that is likely to end with star G/F Michael Redd now out for the season. Redd makes things go in Milwaukee and without him this team is cooked. They are currently in position for a playoff slot, but the downward spiral will begin shortly. Richard Jefferson hasn't dazzled as Milwaukee had hoped when acquiring him, but his role offensively will increase now that Redd is out. Andrew Bogut will have to score more as well. In the end, I expect the Buc! ks to miss out on the playoffs.
Chicago Bulls
Chicago has the pieces, but once again find themselves out of the playoff picture. Rookie PG Derrick Rose has been great, but he is not ready to carry a team into the playoffs alone. Ben Gordon can score, but he is unhappy in Chicago and it is affecting the team. Luol Deng was expected to become a star last year and did not. Deng was expected to break out this year, but has not. Until he does, Chicago will remain out of the playoffs. Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden, Andres Nocioni, Tyrus Thoma! s, Kirk Hinrich, Joakim Noah, and Thabo Sefolosha all are part of this roster, but somehow this team cannot win. They have tried changing coaches, it has not worked. It is time to shake things up in Chicago and I would start with Ben Gordon.
Indiana Pacers
Indiana is rebuilding and have a star in Danny Granger to build around. When they brought in T.J. Ford they expected to be competitive, but Ford has not lived up to the hype. The depth does not exist on this team and Granger needs a c! omplement. Preferably a big man because Ford is a good PG. Mik! e Dunlea vy has played very little due to injury and he will help when and if he returns. I do not foresee playoffs in this team's future, but Granger's development will only help when Indiana looks to bring in talent in the offseason. Pacers' fans don't fret your time will come.
