Post by Indiana on Jul 30, 2015 8:01:09 GMT -6
It's hard to think that a team from this division is actually going to make an appearance in the playoffs this year. The Central Division of the American conference is marginally the worst division in the entire league. The Middle East division at least boasts 2 team with a winning percentage above .400, at this point in time Central has 3 teams below .400 and only the struggling Pacers can say they dont have a losing record....yet.
The Pacers are living up to their names sake and actually setting the pace even if they are doing it in a burning dumpster, the Detroit Pistons couldn't power a steam engine, the Washington Bullets have shot themselves in the face (still crying over the loss of Kev), and the Toronto Craptor's add to the burning inferno that is the Central Division. It all but makes a review almost impossible to write because i just summed this division up in 2 paragraphs. The 2028 regular has been a disaster and Central better clean up their act!
The Pacers have made some changes and seem to have a good trading relationship with the Bulls bringing Oscar Schmidt and Fernando Martin from the Bulls in exchange for Kareem, Vinnie Johnson and Richard Jefferson. Both Kareem and Jefferson where acquired from Milan for a future 1st and 2nd round pick.
Performance:
The Pacers jumped out to an early lead in the division and have never lost top place in the division. Now as the GM of the Pacers personally, i will say that my arrogance in believing that none of these teams below me will beat me to a playoff spot has lead to some serious experimentation of our gameplan. I think the Pacers are a few more wins better then what they have achieved so far but defensively this team just need to get a whole lot stronger. The Pacers have played 21 games on the road so far and 15 at home so their draw will start pulling into a stretch of home games. They have been poor so far and will need to earn respect, forget about playoff spot.
Star performer:
Oscar Schmidt the newly acquired PF takes this prize out. Averaging 22.6ppg, 9.7rebs, 3.5ast, 1.2stl, 1.1blk the Pacers will look to get even more out of Schmidt if they are going to be a contender.
Prediction: Division Champs
Detroit made some very minor trades last season which saw them get Lindsay Hunter and a few others not worth mentioning from Toronto for Danny Ainge and they also traded out Wayman Tisdale to Harlem for a future 1st round pick belonging to Indiana.
Performance:
It's safe to say they have been dreadful. A home record of 11-11 would dissappoint the Pistons but the concerning thing is they have only played a total of 11 games on the road where they have only managed to win just 2 games which came against Athens and Tel Aviv. Defensively the Pistons are allowing 120ppg and have so much work to do to turn not just their season but their entire franchise around. Their season is about to get rough as they embark on serious stretch of games, mostly on the road against league heavy weights kicked off with a double header against division rivals Indiana whom they have 3 games in hand on.
Star Performer:
Grant Hill is having his best season to date averaging 21.1ppg, 7.2rebs, 5.8ast, 1.6stl and shooting above 83% from the free throw line Hill is showing he's the perfect person to lead the Piston's out of the darkness and give the fans something to cheer about.
Prediction: 3rd
Very little activity here. Has put Dominique on display for the rest of the league to dream about, trading out Larry Smith was the only other move to note in exchange for a 2nd round pick.
Performance:
They have been terrible on the road winning just 3 of 16 matches away from home court where they have won 10 of 17. Like the rest of the division the Bullets have struggled defensively and just like the Pistons they have 3 games in hand on the division leaders. It's hard to say where this team is headed, considering they are a championship winning team one could be forgiven for being optimistic about their future. They are coming off a 3 game losing streak, the last being a 4 point loss away to division rivals Indiana sinking the Bullets to just 3 wins from 7 starts against division rivals, the second worst in the division.
Star Performer:
Dominique Wilkins has not only been a star of the division but the entire league. Nique is playing as an extremely undersized PF at 6'7" where he is scoring 31.3ppg and grabbing 8.6 rebounds but at the age of 30 has he seen the last of the glory days as a Bullet?
Prediction: 2nd
There's been a flurry of trades here with ALBA and the Bulls which has seen guys like Green, Marrion, Marbury, Okafor, Thorpe and even a return of a 1st round pick back to ALBA so it's uncertain where this team actually sees themselves. Trading away ALBA's 2029 pick (which will be high) suggests they see themselves as contenders, on paper they look good but their record suggests anything but.
Performance:
Toronto has affectionately been nicknamed the "Craptors" and their 8-27 record is actually not a joke, it is real. The Raptors are currently on an 8 game losing streak and have won just 1 game from 5 against division rivals. Considering the defensive and offensive quality this team has running through their back court its mind blowing to think how bad they are. They could really do with some post defense and need to decide on Spree or Francis.
Star Performer:
Who cares. Spree and AI are both averaging 20ppg and look like a good combo.
Prediction: Last
The Pacers are living up to their names sake and actually setting the pace even if they are doing it in a burning dumpster, the Detroit Pistons couldn't power a steam engine, the Washington Bullets have shot themselves in the face (still crying over the loss of Kev), and the Toronto Craptor's add to the burning inferno that is the Central Division. It all but makes a review almost impossible to write because i just summed this division up in 2 paragraphs. The 2028 regular has been a disaster and Central better clean up their act!
INDIANA PACERS (currently 1st)
Trades:The Pacers have made some changes and seem to have a good trading relationship with the Bulls bringing Oscar Schmidt and Fernando Martin from the Bulls in exchange for Kareem, Vinnie Johnson and Richard Jefferson. Both Kareem and Jefferson where acquired from Milan for a future 1st and 2nd round pick.
Performance:
The Pacers jumped out to an early lead in the division and have never lost top place in the division. Now as the GM of the Pacers personally, i will say that my arrogance in believing that none of these teams below me will beat me to a playoff spot has lead to some serious experimentation of our gameplan. I think the Pacers are a few more wins better then what they have achieved so far but defensively this team just need to get a whole lot stronger. The Pacers have played 21 games on the road so far and 15 at home so their draw will start pulling into a stretch of home games. They have been poor so far and will need to earn respect, forget about playoff spot.
Star performer:
Oscar Schmidt the newly acquired PF takes this prize out. Averaging 22.6ppg, 9.7rebs, 3.5ast, 1.2stl, 1.1blk the Pacers will look to get even more out of Schmidt if they are going to be a contender.
Prediction: Division Champs
DETROIT PISTONS (currently 2nd)
Trades: Detroit made some very minor trades last season which saw them get Lindsay Hunter and a few others not worth mentioning from Toronto for Danny Ainge and they also traded out Wayman Tisdale to Harlem for a future 1st round pick belonging to Indiana.
Performance:
It's safe to say they have been dreadful. A home record of 11-11 would dissappoint the Pistons but the concerning thing is they have only played a total of 11 games on the road where they have only managed to win just 2 games which came against Athens and Tel Aviv. Defensively the Pistons are allowing 120ppg and have so much work to do to turn not just their season but their entire franchise around. Their season is about to get rough as they embark on serious stretch of games, mostly on the road against league heavy weights kicked off with a double header against division rivals Indiana whom they have 3 games in hand on.
Star Performer:
Grant Hill is having his best season to date averaging 21.1ppg, 7.2rebs, 5.8ast, 1.6stl and shooting above 83% from the free throw line Hill is showing he's the perfect person to lead the Piston's out of the darkness and give the fans something to cheer about.
Prediction: 3rd
WASHINGTON BULLETS (currently 3rd)
Trades:Very little activity here. Has put Dominique on display for the rest of the league to dream about, trading out Larry Smith was the only other move to note in exchange for a 2nd round pick.
Performance:
They have been terrible on the road winning just 3 of 16 matches away from home court where they have won 10 of 17. Like the rest of the division the Bullets have struggled defensively and just like the Pistons they have 3 games in hand on the division leaders. It's hard to say where this team is headed, considering they are a championship winning team one could be forgiven for being optimistic about their future. They are coming off a 3 game losing streak, the last being a 4 point loss away to division rivals Indiana sinking the Bullets to just 3 wins from 7 starts against division rivals, the second worst in the division.
Star Performer:
Dominique Wilkins has not only been a star of the division but the entire league. Nique is playing as an extremely undersized PF at 6'7" where he is scoring 31.3ppg and grabbing 8.6 rebounds but at the age of 30 has he seen the last of the glory days as a Bullet?
Prediction: 2nd
TORONTO RAPTORS (last)
Trades:There's been a flurry of trades here with ALBA and the Bulls which has seen guys like Green, Marrion, Marbury, Okafor, Thorpe and even a return of a 1st round pick back to ALBA so it's uncertain where this team actually sees themselves. Trading away ALBA's 2029 pick (which will be high) suggests they see themselves as contenders, on paper they look good but their record suggests anything but.
Performance:
Toronto has affectionately been nicknamed the "Craptors" and their 8-27 record is actually not a joke, it is real. The Raptors are currently on an 8 game losing streak and have won just 1 game from 5 against division rivals. Considering the defensive and offensive quality this team has running through their back court its mind blowing to think how bad they are. They could really do with some post defense and need to decide on Spree or Francis.
Star Performer:
Who cares. Spree and AI are both averaging 20ppg and look like a good combo.
Prediction: Last
