3 Reasons NBA's Central Division Will Come Back Strong Next Season

In the Eastern Conference this season, the Atlantic and Southeast division each entered three teams into the playoffs with winning records while the Central had only two. The Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers of the Central proved to be two of the dominant teams in the East while the Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks struggled for a good portion of the season.

Though the Central shaped out to be the weaker division this year, that could instantly change by the beginning of 2012-13 season.

Each team in the Central had an improvement with their record besides Chicago. However, the Bulls still raced to first place of the Central as well as the East.

Every team in this division is capable of a better follow up season and reign as the best of the East. Here are three reasons why it will happen next year.

1. Chicago Still the Best in the East

This season has been a nightmare of injuries for the Chicago Bulls, but still managed to stand tall as the No. 1 seed of the Eastern Conference.

Key players missed an astounding number of games including Richard Hamilton with 38, Luol Deng 12, and Derrick Rose missing 25 games including all but Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs. Joakim Noah only missed two regular season games, but injured his foot in Game 4 against the Sixers as he watched his team fall to an upset.

Role players like Kyle Korver and John Lucas helped pick up the slack, but the absence of Rose and Noah in the playoffs was too much to overcome.

With a healthy roster next season, Chicago can return back to normal form as one of the best in the East. If Chicago can earn a 50-16 record with an injury plagued roster, it's intriguing to know what could happen when healthy.

2. Premiere Guards

The NBA has become a league for guards to thrive, and the guards of the Central Division have been doing just that.

There are plenty of well established guards like Monta Ellis, Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings. On the other side comes guards who are ready to solidify their names in the NBA like Brandon Knight, George Hill, and the reigning Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving.

All have made phenomenal impressions on the league, and will only progress as their careers move forward. As their careers continue to flourish, their teams will ride the same path.

The backcourts of the Central stand taller than their oppositions of the Atlantic and Southeast. Backcourts of teams like the Toronto Raptors and the Orlando Magic don't scare many teams. The guards of the Central hold the future of their franchises in their hands, and should take them in the right direction. 

3. Powerhouses on the Decline?

As younger teams like the Indiana Pacers are on the rise, the long-time elites seem to be spiraling in the wrong direction. The Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, and Atlanta Hawks are all either aging or have roster issues to deal with this offseason.

The Orlando Magic earned a first round exit from the playoffs courtesy of the Pacers. Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson and 2012 Most Improved Player Ryan Anderson all become free agents at the end of next season. If you thought the Dwight Howard roller coaster was wild this year, just wait for this offseason to start.

The Atlanta Hawks have been playing with the same core for numerous years, and have found themselves in the mediocre pack of the Eastern Conference. Joe Johnson's monstrous contract will keep him in Atlanta for awhile, but how much longer will players like Josh Smith be around? Year after year Smith finds himself in the trade rumor mill, and that will keep up this offseason.

The Boston Celtics find themselves in a bind as well, especially with the era of the Big Three possibly ending. Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett are all free agents this summer with the possibility of playing elsewhere. Despite the yearly progression of Rajon Rondo, he too continues to pop up in trade rumors. If the Celtics core indeed breaks up, expect an immediate decline in Boston.