Last season, the Cleveland Cavaliers handily won the Central division crown – by 9.0 games to be exact. However, the result was clearly to be expected at the onset of the 2016-2017 season. Heading into the 2017-2018 season, the Central division looks a lot different, with the departures of Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers to Boston Celtics), Paul George (Indiana Pacers to Oklahoma City Thunder), and Jimmy Butler (Chicago Bulls to Minnesota Timberwolves). While the latter two teams will be significantly worse this season, having lost both of their stars, the Milwaukee Bucks may potentially challenge the Cavaliers for the top spot in the Central division – if they improve and Isaiah Thomas is in fact out until early next calendar year.
Even so, the Cavs are still the overwhelming favorite to win the Central and barring something shocking, expect them to finish on top. Here’s a our 2017-18 preview of the Central.
One Team That Will Overachieve: Milwaukee Bucks
Regular Season Win Total: 47.5
The Milwaukee Bucks are an up-and-rising team and this season may just be their year to finally break out. After making the playoffs and almost eliminating the Toronto Raptors in the first-round of last season, the Bucks are poised to enter the playoffs for a second straight year, as the Eastern Conference has gotten significantly weaker compared to last season. Their best player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, is a rising superstar, and at only 22 years old, is oozing with potential. The Bucks also have solid contributors in last season’s Rookie of the Year Award winner Malcolm Brogdon, Thon Maker, Khris Middldeton, Jabari Parker, and Tony Snell. If the Bucks can avoid major injuries – especially Middleton and Parker – they might even challenge the Cavaliers for the top seed in the Central division. Maybe we’re getting too far ahead of ourselves here?
One Team That Will Disappoint: Chicago Bulls
Regular Season Win Total: 21.5
We already know the Bulls will be one of the worst teams in the league next year, but just how bad will they be? With Butler traded to the Timberwolves, it’s hard to picture the Bulls winning more games than in the mid-20s. Last season, they struggled mightily with Butler off the court and this season should be no different. With a Dwyane Wade buyout likely to happen, the Bulls organization looks completely out of sorts. If Zach LaVine and Robin Lopez are your two best players – with LaVine coming off ACL surgery – your team will likely be digging themselves a huge hole over the course of the regular season. They also placed a pretty big bet on former first-round pick Kris Dunn (acquired in the Butler trade) but he didn’t show much last season. Let’s see how bad the Bulls will end up this season.
Best Bet To Win The Division: Cleveland Cavaliers
When it comes to the Eastern Conference, the team that will win its respective division, and also the team that will likely head to the NBA Finals, will be the team that LeBron James is playing for. While the odds for the Cavaliers to win the Central division is -650, the Bucks might be a good longshot pick at +500. James has reached the NBA Finals for a mind boggling eight consecutive years, and this year should be his ninth. Although the Cavaliers will be without Irving moving forward, they’ve basically returned the same roster from the past few seasons, along with the addition of Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, and Derrick Rose. James is still the best player in the NBA and by far the best player in the Eastern Conference. Unless James somehow sustains a major injury during the regular season, I can’t see any other team making it to the NBA Finals, let alone winning the Central division. While nobody is quite sure what the LBJ’s gameplan is beyond this season, The King should reign on in the East for at least this season.
Odds To Win The Central Division
Cleveland Cavaliers -650
Milwaukee Bucks +500
Detroit Pistons +2500
Indiana Pacers +10000
Chicago Bulls +30000
The 2017 NBA futures are out. It’s been a wild offseason already, but keep an eye on the betting lines as they move around at Diamond Sportsbook! Get the latest NBA betting lines right here.
