Preseason basketball has just kicked off, which means the NBA regular season is nearly here! After so much shuffling around this offseason, each team enters this season with some questions. We are looking at the biggest glaring questions each team has heading into the season. Up next, is the Central Division.
Chicago Bulls – Can Zach LaVine Stay Healthy?
The last time Zach LaVine played a full season was the 2015-2016 season. He has only played 134 games combined over the past three seasons. He’s a remarkable talent when healthy, but is he ever really healthy?
The Bulls brought in Tomas Satoransky to help with their point guard woes, which should be an upgrade over Kris Dunn. This will benefit LaVine by allowing him to flourish as the main bucket getter for the offense.
This team is the youngest team in the Central Division, and one of the youngest in the NBA. Outside of Thaddeus Young, no one else on the roster was born in the 80’s. For this team to be successful, they will need LaVine to play. He’s only 23 years old, yet he’s been in the league for five years and is the leader of the Bulls.
Cleveland Cavaliers – What will happen with Kevin Love?
The Cavs are clearly in rebuild mode, however, Kevin Love’s contract isn’t exactly what you want to build around. Love is still a good player, however, at 31 years old, with a 4-year $120 million contract extension he signed last July, he isn’t exactly what the Cavs need right now. This certainly makes the extension the Cavs offered a head-scratcher.
Most likely they will look to move him at some point. What they get for him is hard to gauge at the moment. As of now, it looks like three other teams could make the playoffs in the Central Division, so the Cavs outlook for this season isn’t too optimistic. It would be in their best interest, and Love’s, for them to part ways with this relationship sooner rather than later.
Detroit Pistons – What guards are going to show up to play?
The Pistons frontcourt is good, really good. Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond have formed a formidable duo that is going to snag every rebound and set the tone for their team. The backcourt though, is a different situation altogether.
If you were to ask the casual fan who starts alongside Reggie Jackson for the Pistons, you would probably get many confusing looks. Jackson is a good player who is best suited in his current role as a third option. What about the guy next to Jackson though? Does Bruce Brown get you excited? Luke Kennard or Langston Galloway? Yeah I didn’t think so.
Derrick Rose is now a Piston, so maybe you can talk yourself into that. He showed flashes of still having it last season and it looks like the Pistons are going to need to rely on him to help facilitate the offense while Jackson is on the bench. Unless Blake Griffin can play multiple positions at the same time, the Pistons are going to need a big leap from someone else on the roster. As of now, it’s uncertain who that person will be.
Indiana Pacers – Can the Pacers steady the ship until Oladipo returns?
Nearly seven months ago, Oladipo ruptured a quad tendon in his right knee. The 2017-2018 Most Improved Player of the Year is without a doubt the leader on this team. Oladipo is great player on both sides of the ball, but he projects to be out until December, or possibly even January.
The Pacers weren’t going to take the news of an injury lying down. They were active in the offseason putting pieces in place to help alleviate Oladipo’s departure. Malcolm Brogdon is going be an upgrade over Collison at the point guard spot. Jeremy Lamb should slot into Oladipo’s spot for the time being and T.J Warren was brought in to shoulder some of the offensive load.
There are a lot of moving parts right now. When Oladipo does return, those parts will shift around again. How it all will work together is still yet to be seen.
Milwaukee Bucks – How much more will Giannis have to do?
Last season Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks in points per game, rebounds, assists, and was second in steals and blocks. He also led his team to 60 wins and the Eastern Conference finals. Unfortunately they were beat by the eventual NBA champions, the Toronto Raptors.
It’s not like Antetokounmpo is without help. Khris Middleton was an all-star last season and Eric Bledsoe made the all-defensive team. Yet it still feels like Giannis needs superhero-like abilities to get the Bucks over the hump. Thankfully for the Bucks, he looks like a real life superhero.
The NBA is wide open this season as far as who has the possibility of making a Finals appearance. The Bucks are in a good position to win it all, not just the Central Division. To do so, they’ll need Giannis to continue to develop his shot, while other guys on the team rise to the occasion.
