Chicago Bulls
New Faces: Jimmy Butler (Draft), Richard Hamilton (Signd from Pistons)
New Places: Kurt Thomas (Signed with Blazers), Rasual Butler (Signed with Raptors)
It was a good run for the Bulls last season. In 2010-11, they added a number of new pieces, including a new coach and they came together well to finish as the top seed in the East come playoff time. But the post season is a different story and in spite of solid defense, at times, they laboured to score when Miami turned up its resistance in the conference final. But another season together and the addition of an experienced player in Richard Hamilton could help. It’s all contingent on what Hamilton has left in the tank from a physical and attitudinal standpoint.
Look for the Bulls to challenge again in the East and make a push toward the NBA Finals in June. They will be built on the same principles that made Tom Thibadeau the Coach of the Year. Chicago will play defense, pack the paint and turn reigning MVP Derrick Rose loose offensively whenever they get the chance. But it can’t be all Rose all the time. Richard Hamilton and Carlos Boozer are you listening?
Burning Question: Who provides added scoring punch to help Derrick Rose?
Prediction: Chicago wins this division and will fight for top spot in the conference. If they can win the conference, it means, similar to last season, they won’t have to go through Boston and Miami to get to the finals (1st Central Division and 2nd or 3rd in Eastern Conference)
Cleveland Cavaliers
New Faces: Omri Casspi (Trade from Kings), Kyrie Irving (Draft), Tristan Thompson (Draft)
New Places: Baron Davis (Amnestied), Joey Graham (UFA), J.J. Hickson (Trade to Kings)
In their first season without LeBron James, the Cavaliers struggled mightily finishing with a 19-63 record. Let the conspiracy theories run wild as Cavs owner Dan Gilbert at least received a nice parting gift/consolation prize when Cleveland secured two picks in the top five in last June’s draft. First overall selection Kyrie Irving from Duke will hopefully be one of the cornerstones for Cleveland as they look to rebuild the franchise. And we know in today’s NBA, you can’t do anything alone so Irving will be looking to Canadian Tristan Thompson, who was selected fourth overall, for help in bringing the Cavaliers back to respectability.
The biggest thing needed in Cleveland is patience. With the exception of a few veterans (Antawn Jamison, Anthony Parker, Anderson Varejao, and Daniel Gibson) this is a young team that will experience growing pains. Omri Casspi was a good pick up but he too is young so don’t be surprised to see Cleveland get younger over the course of the season if contending teams coming looking for veteran help at the trade deadline.
Burning Question: How quickly can the young Cavaliers learn the NBA game and gain the trust of head coach Byron Scott and his unconventional mentality?
Prediction: Another step in the rebuilding process takes place this season with the Cavs getting another nice consolation prize in a very good draft. With Oklahoma City as the model to emulate, Cleveland needs the young players to improve even if wins don’t necessarily follow. (5th in the Central Division 14th or 15th in the Eastern Conference)
Detroit Pistons
New Faces: Brandon Knight (Draft), Kyle Singler (Draft), Damien Wilkins (Signed from Hawks)
New Places: Richard Hamilton (Signed with Bulls), Tracy McGrady (Signed with Hawks), Chris Wilcox (Signed with Celtics)
It’s been tough times in the Motor City over the last three seasons. For a club that had seven consecutive seasons with 50 or more victories, the last two seasons have seen 50 or more losses. With the departure of Richard Hamilton, Ben Wallace and Tayshaun Prince are the only two remaining links to past success in Detroit. Like so many other teams trying to build a contender without a franchise player, it’s all about cohesion in Motown.
The Pistons made change on the bench with Lawrence Frank taking over as head coach, which will hopefully set a good tone. It seemed that not a day went by last season where there wasn’t some sort of mutiny brewing amongst the players that was aimed at the coaching staff. Veterans Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon are looking to redeem themselves after subpar performances last season. Austin Daye is capable of scoring while Greg Monroe finished the season strong and captured second team NBA All-Rookie honours. There will be more help up front as Jonas Jerebko returns. The big Swede was a member of the All-Rookie squad following 2009-10 season but missed all last season with a ruptured Achilles.
Rodney Stuckey is back in the fold after a holdout but when will his potential be recognized? If it doesn’t happen soon that will damage Detroit’s chances for success and the question will inevitably arise ‘is his future in Motown or elsewhere?’
Burning Question: Known as a defensive-minded coach, can Lawrence Frank improve a team that was last in the NBA in opponent’s field goal percentage?
Prediction: There should be improvement in Detroit under Lawrence Frank this season but not enough to return them to the postseason. (4th Central Division and 10th or 11th in the Eastern Conference)
Indiana Pacers
New Faces: George Hill (Acquired from Spurs), David West (Signed from Hornets), Louis Amundson (Acquired from Warriors)
New Places: Mike Dunleavy (Signed with Bucks), T.J. Ford (Signed with Spurs), Josh McRoberts (Signed with Lakers), Brandon Rush (Traded to Warriors)
After finishing eighth a season ago and making the playoffs, the Pacers have flipped the switch. The expectations have been raised and the fan base won’t settle for anything less than a playoff berth. Head coach Frank Vogel had the interim tag removed and has added some top flight help in assistants Brian Shaw and Jim Boylen.
Indiana battled Chicago in the opening round of the playoffs and pushed the Bulls before finally bowing out. The positive in a first-round loss was playoff experience for a young core of players as Darren Collison, Paul George, Danny Granger, Tyler Hansbrough and Roy Hibbert will be looking to take the next step. Gone are veterans Josh McRoberts, T.J. Ford and Mike Dunleavy but the young nucleus will have some help having added a couple of veterans with playoff experience. The Pacers are hoping free agent forward David West stays healthy and can provide production and leadership. The other key off-season acquisition is another relatively young player that has playoff experience in George Hill.
Burning Question: There is a new coaching staff on the bench and a solid core of players that needs to learn to play together on both ends of the floor without much time to practice in a shortened season. So how quickly can the entire group of coaches and players come together on all levels?
Prediction: With the exception of playoff experience, Indiana has all the ingredients to be a contender in a couple of seasons. If the Pacers can expedite the chemistry experiment, they can make some gains this season and potentially be a tough out in the postseason. If the chemicals don’t mix well, it will be back to the drawing board after a season with no playoffs. Best case scenario is a playoff spot in the lower half of the east. (2nd or 3rd in the Central Division and playoff team in the lower half of the east finishing 6th, 7th, or 8th in the Eastern Conference)
Milwaukee Bucks
New Faces: Stephen Jackson (Acquired from Bobcats), Shaun Livingston (Acquired from Bobcats), Beno Udrih (Acquired from Kings), Tobias Harris (Draft), Mike Dunleavy (Signed from Pacers)
New Places: Keyon Dooling (Traded to Celtics), Chris Douglas-Roberts (UFA), Corey Maggette (Traded to Bobcats), Michael Redd (UFA), John Salmons (Traded to Kings)
The Bucks were the surprise of the east a couple of season ago and had the Atlanta Hawks on the ropes but couldn’t finish them off. All that served to do was raise expectations for last season only to see disappointment prevail as Milwaukee had to sit at home and watch the post season on the couch.
To be fair, injuries took their toll on the Bucks last season as key players Brandon Jennings and Andrew Bogut were dinged up and missed time. Last season, the Bucks were a tough defensive team under head coach Scott Skiles holding opponents to 44.7% and were one of only two teams in the top 10 in that category not to make the post season. You can expect the same defence in this campaign with Luc Mbah a Moute back with a new contract. But back to the post season chatter. So why did the Bucks miss the playoffs last season with such stellar defense? Well Milwaukee was last in scoring and last in offensive field goal percentage.
But the Bucks brought in some veteran players to help their cause this season. Stephen Jackson, Mike Dunleavy and Beno Udrich will provide some help on the perimeter that will hopefully lead to a better offensive output.
Burning Question: If the defence remains consistent, and there is no reason to think that Skiles will allow a letdown, can the Bucks get enough scoring to help produce wins? They broke the cash register for 100 points fewer times than any team last season but when they did, they were 17-4.
Prediction: If the stay healthy and find a way to put some points on the board Milwaukee could be in a battle for a playoff spot and return to the postseason. They have veterans with a young, dynamic point guard in Jennings but depth could be an issue. (3rd or 4th in the Central Division 8th or 9th in the Eastern Conference)
