NBA Central Division has Pacers and
Cavs eager to build on momentum while Bucks hope to stay healthy
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[October 16, 2024]
By STEVE MEGARGEE
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers want to
show their run to the Eastern Conference finals last year was no
fluke.
Indiana made its first playoff appearance since 2020 last season and
had the longest postseason run of any Central Division team since
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to the 2021 title.
The fact the Pacers did that as a No. 6 seed explains why most
preseason prognostications suggest they won’t make a similar run
this year.
“Everybody’s been doubted one way or another, I mean our whole
starting five,” said Haliburton, a third-team All-NBA guard and
Olympic gold medalist. “You know, me. We have a guy who was a
second-round pick. A guy that got traded from his first team, a guy
who played his first couple years and got traded, and a guy who’s
been talked about being traded his whole career.
“So I think everybody has different motivations and I think that
just adds chips on our shoulder as a group, and I think that’s the
exciting part because I think that’s the reason there was so much
success and hunger last year.”
Indiana’s playoff run started with a first-round victory over the
Bucks, who have finished first in the Central Division each of the
last six years but haven’t been able to translate that
regular-season success into the postseason lately.
They’ve exited in the opening round of the playoffs each of the last
two seasons and want to make the most of their narrowing
championship window as their nucleus gets older.
“No question, I think we can do it,” Bucks center Brook Lopez said.
“Our guys are definitely hungry.”
While the Bucks want to put their recent playoff misfortunes behind
them, the Cleveland Cavaliers are eager to pick up where they left
off last year.
Cleveland went 48-34 last year to finish a game behind Milwaukee and
got beyond the opening round of the playoffs for the first time
since making the last of four straight Finals appearances in 2018.
The Cavaliers followed that up by signing All-Star guard Donovan
Mitchell to a three-year, $150.3 million contract extension.
“We believe in our group,” Mitchell said. “I believe in us. That’s
why I re-signed here. I think for us, now it’s on us to go out there
and execute.”
A look at each team in the Central Division in predicted order of
finish:
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks believe they should be better off from having some time to
work together after going through so much upheaval last year, from
acquiring Damian Lillard just before training camp to firing Adrian
Griffin and hiring Doc Rivers as coach at midseason.
This remains a formidable team when everyone’s healthy, but that
hasn’t been the case very often lately. Counting the playoffs, the
Bucks had Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Lillard all available
for only five of their final 39 games last season.
Antetokounmpo has missed all or part of the Bucks’ last two playoff
series due to injuries, so keeping the two-time MVP healthy is
paramount. The Bucks are hoping the offseason additions of veteran
free agents Gary Trent Jr., Delon Wright and Taurean Prince can
boost the depth of their top-heavy roster.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Turns out, Mitchell really does like it in Cleveland.
The All-Star guard’s decision to sign a long-term contract extension
this summer should keep the Cavs among the Eastern Conference’s
elite for the next few seasons.
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Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) shoots between Cleveland
Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) and forward Evan Mobley (4) in
the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Oct. 8,
2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
If forward Evan Mobley further develops his
offensive game, the Cavs will be a problem and an NBA title
contender. The pressure is on new coach Kenny Atkinson, who spent
the past three seasons on Steve Kerr’s staff in Golden State. He
takes over for J.B. Bickerstaff, who guided the club through a
massive rebuild that began when LeBron James left six years ago for
the Lakers.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers figured things went so well with last season’s surprising
run to the Eastern Conference finals, they brought back their entire
starting five and all but two players from the bench.
Haliburton, the reigning league champion in assists, will again
anchor one an offense that flirted with breaking the NBA’s all-time
scoring record. He’ll be paired with Pascal Siakam, who managed to
spend a whole offseason working out with his Pacers teammates after
arriving in a January trade that might have sparked their postseason
success.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls come into the season with a different look and major
question marks. The biggest question involves Zach LaVine and his
future.
Chicago broke up its core after missing the playoffs for the second
year in a row and sixth time in seven seasons. Six-time All-Star
DeMar DeRozan wound up in Sacramento through a three-team,
sign-and-trade. Alex Caruso got dealt to Oklahoma City for Josh
Giddey in a swap of guards.
But LaVine remains a Bull, at least for now.
The two-time All-Star had season-ending foot surgery in February and
is in the middle of a five-year, $215.16 million contract extension
he signed after 2021-22 season.
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons are desperately hoping to take steps toward relevance
after a disappointing season in which they tied an NBA record by
losing 28 straight games within a single season.
Detroit revamped its leadership group for the latest rebuilding
effort, hiring Trajan Langdon as president of basketball operations
and Bickerstaff as coach to replace the fired Troy Weaver and Monty
Williams.
Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 pick overall in 2021, signed a $224
million, five-year contract extension to stay with a team that added
some veterans in the offseason to join Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey.
The Pistons signed Tobias Harris and Malik Beasley, acquired Tim
Hardaway Jr. from Dallas in a trade and selected Ron Holland of the
G League Ignite with the No. 5 pick in the NBA draft.
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AP Sports Writers Larry Lage, Michael Marot, Andrew Seligman and Tom
Withers contributed to this report.
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