Giannis and Milwaukee Bucks, no competition in the Central Division for 2020-21

by

With the announcement of the renewal of two-time NBA MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks emerge as big favorites to repeat in the Eastern Conference Central Division.

The Greek striker adds two consecutive seasons with the Bucks with the best record in the league and ‘MVP’, which hasn’t happened since Stephen Curry and Golden State Warriors did it from 2014 to 2016.

With a major acquisition and assurance that its superstar will be in town for a long time to come, Milwaukee has no real competition on Central.

Let’s take a look at the Bucks themselves and the rest of the teams in their division.

MORE: Favorite Heat in the Southeast | Powerful MAVs in the Southwest

Play

0:39

Andre Drummond shoots just before the middle of the lane as time is running out in the first quarter and celebrates with his teammates.

The Cavaliers had the worst record in the conference last season with 19-46. They also recorded the worst defensive efficiency (114.8 points allowed per 100 assets). That’s why they chose Isaac Okoro, a former Auburn forward who specialized in defense and with great success shooting from the field, for the fifth round of the draft.

JB Bickerstaff returns as a coach, after replacing John Beilein a few months ago. The young coach will hand over the ‘keys’ of the team to point guard Collin Sexton, who is supported by veterans Kevin Love and Andre Drummond, among others. The bench also features figures such as point guard Darius Garland or forward of six seasons, Larry Nance Jr.

The post-LeBron era continues to weigh on a Cleveland that, after combining for 158 wins from 2015 to 2018, has added just 38 in the last two tournaments. Betting on young players takes time, so another season outside of the playoffs would come as no surprise.

Those who follow: Sexton, Love, Drummond, Garland, Nance Jr., Kevin Porter Jr., Dante Exum, Cedi Osman, Dylan Windler, Matthew Dellavedova, Charles Matthews, Marques Bolden, Levi Randolph.

High: Okoro, JaVale McGee, Damyean Dotson and Thon Maker.

Low: Tristan Thompson, Matt Mooney, Ante Zizic, Jordan Bell and Alfonzo McKinnie.

Ranking: 15th in the Eastern Conference in the 2019-2020 tournament.

Projection: 22 victorias

The Pistons, along with the Cavaliers, were the worst team in the Eastern Conference at the last tournament with a record of 20-46.

The board got to work on their now ‘perpetual’ rebuild (they’ve only progressed to the postseason twice in the last 11 tournaments), and only four players will return to the team. Among them the veteran duo of Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose who, if he stays sane (his track record says otherwise), could have some trade value all season long.

Their best player, Christian Wood, was signed and traded against the Houston Rockets. Instead, the Pistons acquired Jerami Grant, a key player in the Denver Nuggets who made it to the finals of the conference this year.

In the draft, they selected point guard Killian Hayes, the tallest French player ever selected from his country. He registered 6.2 assists in the EuroCup.

Those who follow: Rose, Griffin, Sekou Doumbouya and Svi Mykhailiuk.

High: Grant, Hayes, Mason Plumlee, Jahlil Okafor, Josh Jackson, Dewayne Dedmon, Isaiah Stewart, Saddiq Bey, Saben Lee, Delon Wright, Dzanan Musa and Rodney McGruder.

Low: Wood, Langston Galloway, John Henson, Brandon Knight, Thon Maker, Jordan McRae, Derrick Walton Jr., Jordan Bone, Louis King, Bruce Brown, Luke Kennard, Khyri Thomas, and Tony Snell.

Ranking: 13th in the Eastern Conference in the 2019-2020 tournament.

Projection: 20 victorias

Living in a nightmare along with their former manager and coach, The Bulls revolutionized the franchise in search of a response. John Paxson and Gar Forman were fired from management, as was controversial coach Jim Boylen, who was 39-84 in the last two tournaments.

In their place were Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley, who signed former Oklahoma City Thunder coach Billy Donovan.

That said, they ‘surprised’ in the draft by choosing Patrick Williams, the Florida state forward who won sixth man of the year in the ACC conference, with fourth pick in the round. He is the first top 5 pick in the draft to average less than 10 points per game since the shot clock was introduced to college basketball in 1985-86.

The main novelty will be that Coby White will be in charge of ownership as the point guard of a team that already includes talented security guard Zach LaVine and power forward Lauri Markkanen.

Those who follow: White, Markkanen, Lavine, Otto Porter, Devon Dotson, Daniel Gafford, Cristiano Felício, Denzel Valentine, Tomáš Satoranský, Adam Mokoka, Thaddeus Young, Chandler Hutchison, Zach Norvell, Ryan Arcidiacono, Wendell Carter Jr., Garrett Temple, Luke Kornet y Simisola Shittu.

High: Williams, Marko Simonovic, Devon Dotson and Garrett Temple.

Low: Kris Dunn, Shaquille Harrison, Adam Mokoka and Max Strus.

Ranking: 11th in the Eastern Conference in the 2019-2020 tournament.

Projection: 30 victorias

The Pacers are the Bucks’ main rivals in the Central Division, led by versatile forward Domantas Sabonis, as well as point guard Malcolm Brogdon and … Victor Oladipo? During the off season, alleged statements by the guard came to light telling his rivals he ‘wanted’ to play in a different destination.

Indiana fired his coach Nate McMillan and was replaced by Nate Bjorkgren, a former assistant with the Toronto Raptors. The Pacers were 45-28 last season.

Those who follow: Sabonis, Oladipo, Brogdon, Myles Turner, Rayshaun Hammonds, Goga Bitadze, Amida Brimah, Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb, Kelan Martin, TJ Warren, Brian Bowen, Edmond Sumner, Aaron Holiday, Jalen Lecque, Doug McDermott, JaKarr Sampson, TJ McConnell y Naz Mitrou-Long.

High: Cassius Stanley

Low: Brian Bowen II, Alize Johnson, Naz Mitrou-Long, and TJ Leaf.

Ranking: 4th in the Eastern Conference in the 2019-2020 tournament.

Projection: 40 victorias

In a move that is paying off with Antetokounmpo’s revamp, the Bucks acquired the underrated – and one of the NBA’s most complete point guards – Jrue Holiday. The now ex-Pelicans shooter will join forces with the Greek and Khris Middleton in search of that highly anticipated Final that Giannis so resists.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, Antetokounmpo and LeBron James (2008-10) are the only players to win the ‘MVP’ in the league and have the best record in current seasons and not only play the coronation dance in the NBA, but also NFL, MLB and NHL.

A two-time MVP, Giannis will be looking for his third in a row, something he hasn’t seen since Larry Bird did it from 1983 to 1986.

Those who follow: Antetokounmpo, Middleton, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Donte Divencenzo, Brook López, Tory Craig, Pat Connaughton, DJ Wilson, Sam Merrill, Treveon Graham and Bryn Forbes.

High: Holiday, DJ Augustin, Bobby Portis, Nik Stauskas, Jaylen Adams, Jordan Nwora, Sam Merrill and Rayjon Tucker.

Low: Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, Wesley Matthews, Sterling Brown, Robin Lopez, Kyle Korver, Frank Mason, Cameron Reynolds, Ersan Ilyasova and Marvin Williams.

Ranking: 1st in the Eastern Conference in the 2019-2020 tournament.

Projection: 50 victorias

.Source