NBA 2008-9 Predictions: Central Division

There's a new recipe in Detroit. The Pistons are now Curry flavored.

The Detroit Pistons didn't surprise many by being the second best team in the East. But 59 wins was the second highest total for the Pistons in the past 18 years. That did surprise some. 

The Bulls on the other hand, were one of the league's biggest disappointments. A new coach, the top draft pick, and a big hole to climb out of for Luol Deng and crew.

Here's how I see it....

Central Division

Detroit 55-27 (LY=59-23)

The big shake up never occurred. It might not need to. Many said they were in decline and they won 59 games last year. Just missing a superb 60-win season means that the playoffs are their down fall.

Maybe they have been getting too much respect the last few years. Still, the addition of Kwame Brown, the continued development of Rodney Stuckey and Jason Maxiell keeps these guys in the hunt for the title.

Rip and Chauncy Billups aren’t the problem. Rasheed Wallace can’t do it alone around the hoop on either end of the court. Brown can do the things that the Pistons need done defensively. Starting PF is up for grabs, while Curry wants to use McDyess off the bench this year.

What was once considered a complete calm under pressure is now called a blasé approach to the playoffs. Head honcho Joe Dumars says, “no more calm approach”. Enter Michael Curry. Can insider Curry get it done? I think so.

Cleveland 49–33 (LY=45-37)

I wrote about their strong showing in the playoffs. Was it deceptive as some think? Hard to tell, but I think they have improved.

The long running criticism is that Danny Ferry has been unable to land a solid number two option to take some attention, pressure, and scoring load off of the league's premiere young forward Lebron James. He keeps getting role players, not difference makers, or so it is thought.

LeBron’s weak outside shooting was exposed against the Celtics, though he is an opponent’s nightmare around the hoop.

Say hello to Maurice Williams.

Mo wasn't exactly what people meant when they said 'a legit number two option', but Mo Williams technically qualifies. His 17 points per game in each of the last two years were second on the team to Michael Redd's alpha dog production. While both years' W/L records were terrible, I wouldn't lay that at Williams' feet.

Mo Williams gives this team offense it desperately needs—inside, mid range, and out. Not known as a great distributor, he is a legitimate passer with six assists per game in the last two years.

Ben Wallace, Andy Verajeo and Zydrunas Ilgauskas patrol the paint as well as most. Re-signing Delonte West helps with depth, clutch play and toughness.

Their offense can now be reworked a bit and they will be a more solid contender. With all the attention Lebron James gets, he gets "Mo help" and the rest of the team should finally be able to score more.

Questions remain about 'Cool Mo's D'. Will Mo defend? Signs point to yes.

Chicago 33-49 (LY=33-49)

One of last season’s most surprising meltdowns and frown filled locker rooms gets a rookie head coach in Vinny Del Negro, and the No. 1 pick of the draft in rookie stud, point guard Derrick Rose.

Unfortunately, they also retain some bad attitudes in Tyrus Thomas, Kirk Hinrich, and perhaps Larry Hughes. Ben Gordon will probably play for the one-year deal. He should take the Bulls offer. There is solid talent here, starting with Luol Deng, but this is a tough group to break in a rookie head coach with.

Trade talks linger. This is a tough team to predict.

Milwaukee 32-50 (LY=26-56)

They will finally get a head banger in the dumped Scott Skiles. You might think that alone will get you a certain amount of wins. I’m not in love with that style, but I’m a fan of defensive-minded Skiles anyway.

I expect sparks to fly with Charlie Villanueva and Michael Redd conserving energy to play on only one side of the ball.

Luke Ridnour, while not a defender, is in other ways, a Skiles kind of player. Richard Jefferson and a renewed Andrew Bogut round out an interesting starting five. Don’t know what this team will do, but it will be fun finding out.

They could do more than I predicted if Scott actually gets them to defend as a team. They may be a real surprise. But Scott may also be banging his own head...against a wall, by year's end.

Indiana 31-51 (LY=36-46)

With Jermaine O’Neal gone, is it addition by subtraction? Sorry, but—nope.

Adding TJ Ford, Jarrett Jack, Roy Hibbert and Rasho Nesterovic, losing O’Neal and banishing Jamal Tinsley changes the offense a bit and they will take awhile to figure it out.

They will be “O’ Brien scrappy,” but an emerging Danny Granger, Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy, and Ford can’t take this team too far. Rookie big man Hibbert could surprise, though.

O' Brien teams always get a 'A' for effort.

Next up: Atlantic Division

This article first appeared at Tom's blog at the Connecticut Post.