Milwaukee Bucks
2017-2018 record: 44-38
ESPN.com Pre-Season Power Ranking: No. 9
Can Giannis Antetoukounmpo finally take the top spot that has been dominated by Lebron James the last four years? He certainly seems ready and will look to dominate the Eastern Conference this season. The Bucks will look to improve under newly signed coach Mike Budenholzer, who is known for his defensive schemes. All eyes will be on the Bucks, who under Budenholzer and Antetoukounmpo, have the potential to win the East.
The Greek Army
We all know Greek born player Giannis Antetoukounmpo by now. The 6’11 superstar who moves like a guard, but is as big as a center. He will continue to dominant opposing teams, but will his new surrounding cast put them on top of the East? They acquired shooting big men, Brook Lopez and Ersan Ilyasova, which will help them stretch the floor. Khris Middleton will look to continue to be one of the best underrated players in the league and is finally healthy enough to contribute more this year. Budenholzer is known to be a great defensive coach, so his presence will most definitely benefit this team. They have finished in the lower half of the league in defensive efficiency the last several years.
Antetokounmpo’s Shot, Spotty Team Health
Some of the questions that surround the Bucks are can Antetokounmpo take the final step and develop his shot? Then, can the roster with spotty injury history stay healthy enough to be competitive over the year? Antetokounmpo has been criticized by many for his lack of an outside shot. He has been working hard on it this offseason and will look to improve that this year. If he can develop a shot it will shoot the Bucks up to the top of favorites to win the East. Finally, the roster needs to stay healthy and develop this season to keep the Bucks competitive. Middleton and the two newly acquired big men have plenty of injury history. They will be key in Budenholzer’s plans this season and need to stay healthy to keep the Bucks on top. The young group of Thon Maker, Malcolm Brogdon, D.J. Wilson and rookie Donte DiVincenzo will need to improve this year to make the Bucks into the team to beat.
Chicago Bulls
2017-2018 record: 27-55
2018 ESPN Pre-Season Power Ranking: No. 25
The post Jimmy Butler/Derrick Rose era has been miserable for the Chicago Bulls. They have a few bright spots on a very young team, but will most likely have another rebuilding year this year. The last several seasons, they rank almost dead last in every statistical category. Key addition Jabari Parker will look to join Zach Lavine and Lauri Markkanen on a young Bulls team trying to figure out a identity. Hopefully, Bulls fans will have more to talk about than Michael Jordan’s legacy this year.
Young Core is Finally Healthy
Zach Lavine and Jabari Parker are fully healed from their ACL tears. The Bulls were a lot better last season when Lavine was on the floor. With the addition of Parker this year, it gives the Bulls another strong offensive weapon. Surprise 2017 draft pick Lauri Markkanen will look to keep developing, after a strong rookie campaign. If Markkanen can develop more defensively, he would surely become a star. Kris Dunn, Denzel Valentine and rookie Wendell Carter Jr. will look to provide a key supporting cast for these three players. If Lavine can become the offensive star we all hope he will be, the Bulls might actually surprise us a bit this year.
Post-ACL Injury Questions
Lavine, Markkanen, Parker and Dunn all have tremendous talent, but have yet to even play a full month worth of games together. Injuries have not given the Bulls the best chance to compete, but this year everyone is healthy and ready to go. They just need their young core to get playing experience this year, but the sky is the limit for this team. Coach Fred Hoiberg will look to keep the team healthy all year, so the players can develop together. The Bulls have a long road ahead of them, if they want to get back to a contending level.
Cleveland Cavaliers
2017-2018 record: 50-32
2018 ESPN Pre-Season Power Ranking: No. 22
Well, he left again. The biggest topic in the NBA this past offseason was LeBron James’ decision part two. As the Cavs see their superstar leave town once again, the season does not look too bright. They are in better shape this time around with Kevin Love on the team, but losing a player like James cannot be replaced. The Cavs drafted highly touted guard Collin Sexton and will look to remain competitive this year. Everyone will surely be keeping their eyes on Cleveland, to see if they can withstand another LeBron departure.
Love, Sexton Enough To Be Competitive?
The Cavs extended Love’s contract and drafted prize rookie Sexton. Everyone from last year’s team, minus James, will return this season. Love will get a chance to replicate his All-Star Minnesota days as the primary scoring threat. Sexton has been compared to the likes of Russell Westbrook and will look to terrorize opponents offensively. Cedi Osman, JR Smith, Kyle Korver and Tristan Thompson will look to provide a solid supporting cast for these two players. If the Cavs can play better defense and get solid production from their top two players, they can easily return to the playoffs.
Team Health, James is Gone
Just like many other teams, team health will be important for this Cavs team as they are looking to prove they do not need LeBron. The last several years, Love’s health has been inconsistent. This season he will be heavily relied on, so his health will be important for this team to have success. The rest of the team is filled with veterans, which usually go hand in hand with injuries. Finally, the team will have to deal with the constant debate on if they can win without James. They finished second to last in defensive efficiency last season. Without the offensive punch of James this team will have to play better defensively, if they want to win.
Indiana Pacers
2017-2018 record: 48-34
2018 ESPN Pre-Season Power Ranking: No. 14
Last season was supposed to be the year they no longer had Paul George. They went over expectations with a breakout year from Victor Oladipo. All of their players played above expectations, which lead to a very successful year. This season they will look to improve upon last year, with help from a deeper bench. Oladipo will improve his play, but they will look to improve the offense when Oladipo is not on the floor. If the Bucks disappoint this year, the Pacers should win this division easily.
Oladipo & Co.
Last season’s breakout star has had a whole offseason to get better. Oladipo will undoubtedly come out better this year. To think he could get better is a scary thought for opposing teams, but can the rest of the team get better too? The Pacers lost key bench player Lance Stephenson to the Lakers, but gained two key pieces in Tyreke Evans and Doug McDermott. Evans will look to use his offensive finesse to lead a second team when Oladipo sits. McDermott adds knockdown shooting to a rotation that heavily lacked it last year. Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis will look to improve and provide the team with two dominant big men. If Turner can return to 2016 form and Sabonis can improve upon a breakout 2017 year, then this team will be hard to beat. No one will want to play a improved Oladipo & Co. when April rolls around.
Development Concerns, Bench Needs To Step Up
Two key things that need to improve. If the Pacers want to win the East this year, their bench and any player not named Oladipo need to be better. The biggest hole for this team last year was their bench. When Oladipo was not on the floor they could not hold leads, because no one could score. The Pacers will hope that their offseason acquisitions can fix this issue. Finally, the Pacers need their young big men to develop. This will take the pressure off of the guards and provide a huge presence in the paint. Turner and Sabonis will have a lot of eyes on them this season, because they need to take the next step for the Pacers to take the next step. If Turner, Sabonis, or newly acquired Kyle O’Quinn cannot take the pressure off of Oladipo, then the Pacers will most likely see another early exit in the playoffs.
Detroit Pistons
2017-2018 record: 39-43
2018 ESPN Pre-Season Power Ranking: No. 17
The Pistons were mediocre again last season, but improved when they acquired Blake Griffin in January. They got rid of Stan Van Gundy and signed 2018 Coach of the Year Dwane Casey. The year looks promising for Detroit with hopes of a full year of Griffin and Casey’s schemes. If Griffin can develop a partnership with Andre Drummond and Casey can replicate his Toronto formula, then the Pistons will look to surprise a lot of people around the league.
Full Season Of Griffin And Drummond, Casey’s Coach Of The Year Presence
The Pistons will get a chance to have Griffin for a full year. Him and Drummond will be called upon to carry the load for this team and both have tremendous defensive abilities to provide a nice combo. Dwane Casey will look to continue his success with the Pistons. The Raptors moved on from him last season in a effort to get a change of leadership. Detroit quickly signed him to a five year deal and expect him to replicate his previous success. He will look to make the Pistons into a three point shooting team, just like what he turned the Raptors into. If role players Reggie Jackson, Reggie Bullock, Stanley Johnson and Luke Kennard can play around the big two, then the Pistons will challenge the Pacers and Bucks for the division title.
Griffin’s Health, Can Casey Implement His System?
Two concerns for the Pistons are Griffin’s health and will this team fit Casey’s system? Griffin has not played a full year since 2015, due to numerous lower body injuries. The Pistons need their star player to remain healthy in order to be competitive and develop a chemistry with the other star, Andre Drummond. Finally, Casey’s formula involves a lot of three point shooting and experts wonder if this team has the tools to do it. Casey will have to figure out how to stretch the floor with both Griffin and Drummond on the floor at the same time. Griffin is a mediocre three point shooter and Drummond has no deep shot whatsoever. Bullock, Jackson, Johnson and Kennard need to come into their own this season, in order for Casey’s formula to work. The Pistons need shooters to spread the floor when Griffin and Drummond get the ball.
Division Winner: Milwaukee Bucks
I believe that Antetokounmpo will dominate a division without LeBron James. The Bucks’ addition of Brook Lopez and Ersan Ilyasova will help spread the floor for Antetokounmpo to make plays. Khris Middleton will be a huge contributor this season and remain healthy all year. The young guns Thon Maker, Malcolm Brogdon, Donte DiVincenzo and D.J. Wilson will take the next step this year. This will provide Antetokounmpo with a great supporting cast. Antetokounmpo will terrorize opposing teams with triple-double performances, enroute to his first MVP trophy of his career. Now we will just have to see if the Bucks can knock off the favored Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Reference links:
http://www.nba.com/powerrankings/2018-19-summer-east?collection=powerrankings
View my previous Division Preview posts below!
Atlantic Division: click here
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