On The Ball

NBA Central division preview

With all of the offseason roster changes, the upcoming 2005-06 NBA season promises to be an exciting, franchise-altering year for the ages - and in the eastern conference's central division, it is clearly apparent that at least two teams in the division could go all the way. As a matter of fact, even the other three teams in the central should, at the very least, provide an entertaining brand of basketball.

But enough with what could happen, let me review what will happen with the five teams that reside in the NBA's central division.

Detroit Pistons

Sure, Detroit has parted ways with their Hall of Fame coach, Larry Brown during a highly-publicized and equally acrimonious split and came up just short in last season's championship series against the San Antonio Spurs, but if anyone thinks the Pistons are done, I urge you to think again.

The Pistons acquired three forwards through free agency and the draft in veteran banger, Dale Davis, competent veteran, Maurice Evans and first round draft pick, Jason Maxiell who should all provide even more depth to a frontline that is already one of the most talented in the league. I'm not a huge fan of Flip Saunders and I'm not sure how he will fit in as the team's new coach, but I have to admit that he did a more than credible job of coaching the Minnesota Timberwolves during their infancy stages when the only they had going for them was Kevin Garnett.

Whether he can push an already proven team over the top remains to be seen, but there are no more excuses for Saunders.

If he doesn't get this team to return to the eastern conference finals at the very least, then the season will be a complete failure and Saunders' tenure in the motor city could be cut short at some point in the near future.

Remember, we're talking about a team with Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton and the Wallace brothers. There is really no reason for the Pistons not to succeed.

Indiana Pacers

Thankfully for the Indiana Pacers, they have one of the best front offices in pro basketball, not to mention a head coach [Rick Carlisle] who I think is in the top five coaches in the league with room to improve even more.

Yes, the Pacers have lost one of my favorite players and one of the all-time greatest players ever in Reggie Miller, but this year the Pistons will get their best player back in Ron Artest and have acquired two other players who should make an immediate impact in European import, point guard, Sarunas Jasikevicius and do-it-all small forward, Danny Granger.

The Pacers frontline of all-star, Jermaine O'Neal, hustler, Jeff Foster, Scott Pollard, Artest and young David Harrison is more than competent and still has plenty of room for growth. If talented, but career underachiever, Jonathan Bender ever gets a clue, then the Pacers could become totally dominant. As it stands, the Pacers will be very good at the very least and should challenge the Pistons and Miami Heat for supremacy in the eastern conference.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers have had one of the best offseasons of any team in the league. They didn't lose much by parting ways with point guard, Jeff McInnis, shooting guard, Lucious Harris, and forwards Robert Traylor and DaSagana Diop, but they did acquire a new general manager, three players and a head coach who should provide immediate positive returns, not to mention a few more wins in 2005-06.

Who needs Larry Brown when you have Danny Ferry manning the front office. Ferry, who left the San Antonio Spurs' front office to accept the Cavaliers' position, has been nothing short of magical in his short tenure with the Cavs.

Not only did Ferry hire one of the league's most respected young coaches in Mike Brown and retain the services of all-star center, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, but he somehow managed to acquire two backcourt starters in point guard Damon Jones and shooting guard, Larry Hughes, not to mention one of the league's best outside shooters in small forward, Donyell Marshall.

The Cavs also acquired another player through the draft who shouldn't take long to develop into a quality NBA talent in Martynas Andriuskevicius.

Oh, did I mention that the Cavaliers also have LeBron James?

I expect this team to improve by leaps and bounds over the course of the season although they have the unfortunate fate of residing in the same conference as the Pistons and Pacers. No matter, the Cavs will make the playoffs this year and scare the bejesus out of some team before their season eventually comes to a graceful end.

Chicago Bulls

The Bulls are coming off their best season since his 'Airness' hung up his legendary sneakers for the second time following the 1998 season. However, the Bulls will be hard-pressed to repeat their stunning performance from last season when they closed out their regular season with a 47-26 run.

GM John Paxson did a serviceable job by re-signing the vastly improved Tyson Chandler and underrated second-year point guard, Chris Duhon. Paxson also acquired free agents Malik Allen and Eddie Basden who will both be counted on to make some sort of contribution in 2005-06. One huge question mark remains for the Bulls in enigmatic center, Eddy Curry who is seeking a long term contract offer despite an abnormal heart condition that shelved him late in the regular season and throughout the playoffs.

If Curry can bounce back this season and show that both, his heart and his mind are healthy, then the Bulls could be shine once again. Although I like the Bulls' young talent, they will be hard pressed to equal last season's impressive record. In a conference that includes the Pitons, Pacers and rebuilt Cavaliers, not to mention an improved Milwaukee Bucks team, wins should be harder to come by this season - not to mention the fact that they won't be sneaking up on anyone this season.

Milwaukee Bucks

I have to say, GM Larry Harris did an exceptional job in trying to rebuild a team that had absolutely no sense of direction last season. Not only did Milwaukee luck up and win the lottery last season and draft skilled center, Andrew Bogut, but they also retained the services of sniper supreme, Michael Redd and shocked the league by acquiring free agent, Bobby Simmons, who blossomed last year with, of all teams, the Los Angeles Clippers.

With the return of point guard T.J. Ford from a serious neck injury, the Bucks have some pieces in place to make some noise next season. Unfortunately the noise won't be deafening because of the division they reside in, but expect, at the very least, a few more wins and a renewed confidence that hasn't been seen in Milwaukee since the days of Sidney Moncrief and Paul Pressey.

Previous Editions

• Central Division Preview - October 12, 2005
• Northwest Division Preview - October 11, 2005
• Southeast Division Preview - October 10, 2005
• Atlantic Division Preview - September 12, 2005
• The Rich Get Richer - September 12, 2005
• Heat May Be Colder Next Season - August 9, 2005
• The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Larry Brown - July 31, 2005
• A True Friend - July 18, 2005
• McMillian Leaves Sonics Clutching Thin Air - July 11, 2005
• Cavaliers Land Larry Hughes - July 9, 2005

About Eric Williams

Eric Williams is an award-winning sports columnist for the Philadelphia Sunday Sun whose columns are syndicated in newspapers across the country. He also writes for several online publications and can be heard on betus.com satellite radio on Wednesdays afternoons at 3:18 eastern.

Lifetime Boston Celtics fan. Basketball and football are his favorite sports. Eric is married with five children and currently resides in Marshall, Missouri.

Comments and feedback can be sent to eklass66@yahoo.com