StatFox.com - Sports Handicapping Community

The Leader In Sports Handicapping

2014-15 NBA preview: Central Division
By: Staff Writer - StatFox
Published: 9/24/2014  at  12:22:00 PM
  Print This Article    

StatFox continues its run of previewing all six NBA divisions in the next six weeks before the regular season tips off on Tuesday, Oct. 28. Next up is the Central Division, which the Indiana Pacers won by eight games last season, but the Cleveland Cavaliers are the favorites to take the crown this season after adding LeBron James and Kevin Love to the roster.

CENTRAL DIVISION

CHICAGO BULLS

2014-15 SU record: 49-38 SU (56.3%), 13th in NBA
2013-14 ATS record: 42-44-1 ATS (48.8%), 14th in NBA
Odds to Win 2014-15 Central Division: 3-to-2
Odds to Win 2014-15 Eastern Conference: 3-to-1
Odds to Win 2014-15 NBA Championship: 17-to-2

GUARDS
There’s no medical reason why DERRICK ROSE can’t be 100 percent healthy this year. But, as we saw in abbreviated action last season, his confidence may never come back . . . JIMMY BUTLER will still play major minutes this year, though Chicago’s added depth on the wing means he’s no longer a candidate to lead the league in playing time . . . KIRK HINRICH will return to a straight back-up role. His defense guarantees him minutes at both guard spots in a reserve role . . . TONY SNELL was inconsistent as a rookie, but has the defensive skill set to play solid minutes . . . AARON BROOKS gives the Bulls a more offense-heavy option to lead the second unit. He has his work cut out for him to claim the role D.J. Augustin held last season.

FORWARDS
Despite the rough end to his Lakers career, PAU GASOL still has something left in the tank. He will see fewer minutes in a deep Bulls frontcourt, but he’s a great fit on the offensive end . . . It seems like only a matter of time before MIKE DUNLEAVY relinquishes his starting spot. The Bulls now have plenty of shooters on this roster . . . TAJ GIBSON will reprise his sixth-man role. He’ll be one of the league’s top reserves; talent-wise he’s a borderline All-Star . . . Rookie DOUG McDERMOTT will supplant Dunleavy once he grasps head coach Tom Thibodeau’s defensive concepts. McDermott is an elite shooter who can get by defensively . . . NIKOLA MIROTIC might have some growing pains, but the Euro star can play the 3 or stretch-4 and has a very good offensive game.

CENTERS
JOAKIM NOAH is an elite center, as he’s outstanding defensively and has developed into one of the best passing big men in the NBA. The Bulls will do what they can to keep him fresh for the postseason, a luxury they have with Gasol and Mirotic adding depth to the frontcourt rotation. NAZR MOHAMMED is back as a big body with the ability to consistently keep the bench warm.

StatFox Take: The Bulls are getting Derrick Rose back this season and they also drafted Doug McDermott and signed Pau Gasol. They should have a vastly improved offense this season and if Rose can stay healthy, they’ll be among the top of the Eastern Conference and will contend for an NBA championship. They are a good pick to win some of these futures, they’ll just need to go through LeBron James and the Cavs to do so.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

2014-15 SU record: 33-49 SU (40.2%), 22nd in NBA
2013-14 ATS record: 40-42 ATS (48.8%), 15th in NBA
Odds to Win 2014-15 Central Division: 14-to-25
Odds to Win 2014-15 Eastern Conference: 19-to-20
Odds to Win 2014-15 NBA Championship: 3-to-1

GUARDS
KYRIE IRVING will play off the ball more. With defenses keying on LeBron James, Irving should become a more efficient scorer . . . DION WAITERS will start for the Cavaliers at shooting guard. He shows flashes of brilliance on offense, but like Irving, doesn’t play defense . . . MIKE MILLER reunites with James as a part-time floor spacer . . . JOE HARRIS’ deep shooting makes him a possible long-term replacement for Miller.

FORWARDS
LeBRON JAMES is the MVP favorite. He’ll fill up the stat sheet while having these Cavaliers in a position to win every single night . . . KEVIN LOVE is one of the game’s premier power forwards. He should have plenty of open looks this season, as he plays off of James. He’ll also rack up rebounds . . . TRISTAN THOMPSON’s switch from shooting left-handed to righty last season went well. He’s a solid two-way player who should see time at center as well . . . SHAWN MARION will be a swiss-army knife off the bench for the Cavs. He can do a little bit of everything and will allow James to get a little rest this season. . . JAMES JONES followed James to Cleveland. He’ll see minutes in a handful of games as a three-point specialist.

CENTERS
ANDERSON VAREJAO stayed relatively healthy last season, and the Cavs will need him considering their thin rotation up front. He never developed much of an offensive game, but his energy, defense and rebounding fit well alongside Thompson and James.

StatFox Take: The Cavaliers are an excellent pick to win all of these future bets in 2014. LeBron James is back and in better shape than ever. He’ll get to play with Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters and the newly acquired Kevin Love. This team is going to be a handful on offense and they could end up winning an NBA championship if they can get their chemistry down during the regular season.

DETROIT PISTONS

2014-15 SU record: 29-53 SU (35.4%), 23rd in NBA
2013-14 ATS record: 36-46 ATS (43.9%), T-27th in NBA
Odds to Win 2014-15 Central Division: 60-to-1
Odds to Win 2014-15 Eastern Conference: 100-to-1
Odds to Win 2014-15 NBA Championship: 300-to-1

GUARDS
New head coach Stan Van Gundy’s system is perfect for BRANDON JENNINGS, as it is heavy on high pick-and-rolls, which is where Jennings is most dangerous. He’ll never be an efficient scorer . . . Detroit gave a good chunk of change to JODIE MEEKS, so he’s likely to start as a spot-up shooter when he returns from a back injury in January . . . A Tskitishvili Award-winner as one of the stars of Summer League, KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE has a shot to carve out sixth-man minutes . . . After a mini-breakout with Chicago, D.J. AUGUSTIN is the insurance policy behind Jennings. He’s also a great fit for Van Gundy’s system . . . WILL BYNUM has been downright solid with the second unit, but he’ll have to play his way back into the rotation . . . This is a redshirt season for SPENCER DINWIDDIE as he comes back from a torn ACL.

FORWARDS
They’ll keep shopping JOSH SMITH, who is miscast as a 3 on this roster . . . KYLE SINGLER will continue to see solid part-time minutes. He can play both wing spots and has become a good enough threat on corner threes . . . CARON BUTLER joins a crowded frontcourt. He’s evolved into a three-point specialist in the latter part of his career . . . Van Gundy is a JONAS JEREBKO believer. The stretch-4 fell out of favor the past two seasons, but he has a chance to earn a big role off the bench . . . CARTIER MARTIN gives them another athletic wing who can shoot the three . . . Euro import LUIGI DATOME was a big disappointment last season. He’ll have a tough time breaking into this rotation . . . TONY MITCHELL might be looking at another year in the D-League . . . GREG MONROE is an everyday double-double threat. He’ll fill the stat sheet as he plays for a contract for next season.

CENTERS
ANDRE DRUMMOND is a monster on the boards with Defensive Player of the Year upside once he improves in space. Offensively, he can dunk but not much else . . . AARON GRAY is here to fill out the roster once he's cleared to return from his heart problems.

StatFox Take: The Pistons seem to think that bringing in Stan Van Gundy as the team’s coach and head of basketball operations is going to change their fortunes. The problem is that this team is still in an awful salary cap situation and has the wrong pieces in their lineup. Van Gundy may be good for a 10-win improvement, but this team has no chance to win the division, conference or championship. They’re heading towards another lottery selection.

INDIANA PACERS

2013-14 SU record: 66-35 SU (65.3%), 5th in NBA
2013-14 ATS record: 47-53-1 ATS (47.0%), 22nd in NBA
Odds to Win 2014-15 Central Division: 60-to-1
Odds to Win 2014-15 Eastern Conference: 45-to-1
Odds to Win 2014-15 NBA Championship: 100-to-1

GUARDS
Indy couldn’t find an upgrade on GEORGE HILL this offseason, and losing Lance Stephenson and Paul George means Hill will have to play a more traditional ball-handling role this year . . . RODNEY STUCKEY’s combo-guard skills probably make him the best fit alongside Hill. Whether he’s up to the task defensively will decide whether he’s a full-time player or a time-share guy . . . C.J. MILES will help fill the need for perimeter shooting, especially with Paul George out . . . They have a solid veteran back-up in C.J. WATSON. He’s the closest thing to a pure point guard on this roster, and is a bigger need for the second unit than the starting five.

FORWARDS
PAUL GEORGE was poised for an MVP run, but he’ll now miss the season after a compound leg fracture during Team USA practice. He’s no guarantee to ever return at full strength . . . DAVID WEST’s floor-spacing, mid-range game is key in this system . . . He was a dud in his first season with the Pacers, but Indy might have no choice but to plug LUIS SCOLA into their thin frontcourt rotation . . . DAMJAN RUDEZ is a stretch-4 with three-point range. He could push Scola for a rotation spot . . . The Pacers are hoping SOLOMON HILL is ready to be a second-unit glue guy . . . LAVOY ALLEN brings size and opposable thumbs . . . They seemingly have little use for CHRIS COPELAND after signing Rudez.

CENTERS
As strange as it seems, ROY HIBBERT might benefit most from the departure of Lance Stephenson. The big man was referring to Stephenson when he talked about selfish play. Of course, Hibbert’s atrocious performance late last season is a problem in and of itself . . . IAN MAHINMI has size and six fouls to give.

StatFox Take: The Pacers lost Lance Stephenson to free agency and then Paul George to a freak leg injury during Team USA scrimmage. This was a team that was a sure-fire contender to win the Eastern Conference, but they are now out of that picture. This team will need a heroic coaching effort from Frank Vogel in order to even make the playoffs.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

2014-15 SU record: 15-67 SU (18.3%), Last in NBA
2013-14 ATS record: 37-44-1 ATS (45.7%), 26th in NBA
Odds to Win 2014-15 Central Division: 100-to-1
Odds to Win 2014-15 Eastern Conference: 150-to-1
Odds to Win 2014-15 NBA Championship: 400-to-1

GUARDS
The Bucks hope to fill a gaping hole at point guard with a committee approach. BRANDON KNIGHT, an undersized, athletically-overmatched combo guard, will get first crack at the job . . . Ex-Laker KENDALL MARSHALL, a heady floor general who can’t shoot or defend, is an option as well . . . KHRIS MIDDLETON, a spot-up shooter, has a good chance to retain his starting job . . . New head coach Jason Kidd will try to rebuild O.J. MAYO, who could emerge as a serviceable sixth man, but looked wholly disinterested last season . . . The arrival of Marshall likely pushes NATE WOLTERS out of the rotation. He could be ticketed for the D-League at some point this season.

FORWARDS
JABARI PARKER becomes the new face of this franchise. He can score as well as facilitate the offense. The only real question is what kind of defensive effort he puts in . . . GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO will be used at both forward spots and both guard spots as well. The Greek Freak is raw, but the Bucks will expand his role . . . After a season in Larry Drew’s doghouse, the coaching change should bode well for ERSAN ILYASOVA. He’s likely looking at a part-time role . . . JOHN HENSON will play some 4 and 5, though his lack of an offensive game limits his appeal . . . JOHNNY O’BRYANT III might push for a rotation spot once he returns from a knee injury in late November. He’s one of the few big men on this team who can score around the basket . . . If DAMIEN INGLIS comes over, he’s looking at a D-League stint.

CENTERS
Kidd is a LARRY SANDERS believer, so after a season filled with injuries and knucklehead behavior, he’ll have every chance to bounce back. When he’s in the right place, he’s an elite rim protector . . . Larry Drew favorite ZAZA PACHULIA is looking at a traditional back-up role now that Drew is gone.

StatFox Take: The Bucks certainly aren’t a team to bet on winning the Eastern Conference or NBA Championship, but they are in line for a big improvement this season. Jason Kidd takes over as the head coach and looks to start a big lineup with the possibility that 6-foot-9 Giannis Antetokounmpo is the team’s point guard. They should be a very competitive bunch in 2014.

All NBA Previews

ATLANTIC Division
CENTRAL Division
SOUTHEAST Division - Wed, Oct. 1
NORTHWEST Division - Wed, Oct. 8
SOUTHWEST Division - Wed, Oct. 15
PACIFIC Division - Wed, Oct. 22

FoxSheets.com
The FoxSheets - the most advanced sports handicapping information available on the internet.
Sign up for professional sports betting information including fantastic trends, and Free FoxSheets.
E-mail: