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| 2013 NBA Central Division Blog Previews | ||||
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| Sponsored by CelticsBlog and SB Nation | ||||
Jeff Clark of CelticsBlog has, for yet another season, coordinated team preview efforts featuring NBA bloggers from around the web. Here are link to previews for teams in the Central Division.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Fear The Sword | Waiting For Next Year
Detroit Pistons: DetroitBadBoys
The Bulls will find it difficult to defend their Central Division crown, as they will play part of the season without All-Star point guard Derrick Rose, a former league MVP, as he recovers from knee surgery. Perhaps anticipating a struggle, the Bulls were a bit frugal in the offseason by jettisoning Omer Asik, Ronnie Brewer, and Kyle Korver. To shore up the point-guard spot in Rose's absence, Chicago inked high-scoring veteran Nate Robinson to a minimum contract.
Cleveland made modest additions as it continues its rebuild around Kyrie Irving, the reigning Rookie of the Year. The Cavaliers signed free-agent swingman C.J. Miles and drafted combo guard Dion Waiters and seven-footer Tyler Zeller.
Indiana figures to mount a serious charge for the Central crown, but it made some changes in the offseason as well. The Pacers shipped middling point guard Darren Collison to the Dallas Mavericks via trade, netting backup center Ian Mahinmi, whose presence upgrades Indy's previously shallow front line. Free-agent point guard D.J. Augustin replaces Collison on the depth chart. The Pacers also signed free-agent swingman Gerald Green one year after Green's resurgence with the New Jersey Nets.
Detroit made modest moves in its offseason, using the ninth overall pick in the 2012 Draft on project center Andre Drummond. The Pistons already list the 19-year-old at 7-foot-0 and 280 pounds. If he can develop alongside the 6-foot-10 Greg Monroe, Detroit will have one of the East's most formidable young front lines.
The Bucks improved their rotation at power forward and center by acquiring veteran shot-blocker Samuel Dalembert and drafting shot-blocking wizard John Henson. Veteran swingman Marquis Daniels comes aboard to provide some stability off the bench and to fill the void Carlos Delfino's free-agent departure created.
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