NBA Central Division
Cleveland is a mess. The Cavs are now 3-7 in their last ten games, and gave up 148 points to Oklahoma City this weekend. The Cavs are plummeting into the third worst team in defensive efficiency in the NBA, and what has become apparent is how much they lost with Kyrie Irving in the Boston trade. There seems to be no rudder, and any thoughts of the Cavaliers competing for a title seem laughable, at the moment. Cleveland is barely scoring more than their opponents on average (0.2 points per game), and they are losing games they should be winning. The Cavs travel to play the Spurs on Tuesday, and then return home to take on Indiana and Detroit.
Indiana has lost two straight heading into Sunday night, but are currently (as I type this) leading in San Antonio. The Pacers are barely holding onto the seventh seed in the East as we head into the week, and are coming off of bad losses to Portland and the Lakers. The Pacers have also been struggling to score, failing to clear 90 points in those two losses. The Pacers should be favored in two home games coming up this week against Phoenix and Orlando, and they will visit Cleveland on Friday night.
Milwaukee has had their struggles as well, and now Giannis is dealing with knee soreness, which has cost him at least two games as we go into the new week. If he is not 100%, the Bucks could be in for big time trouble as the eight seed moving forward. They lead Detroit by just one game for the final playoff spot in the East. The Bucks have winnable games coming up at home this week against Phoenix and Brooklyn, before heading on the road to close out the week against the Bulls next Sunday.
Detroit is coming off of a humbling last second home loss to Brooklyn, and sit one game out of a playoff spot. The Pistons are just 2-8 in their last ten games, and will be without Reggie Jackson until February, but he may be dealt as soon as he is healthy. Detroit is now riding a five game losing streak. The Pistons host Utah and Oklahoma City this week, and then travel to Cleveland to close out the week.
The Bulls have won four of five, with their lone loss coming against Golden State at home last week. The Bulls are 5.5 games out of the final playoff spot, but they are trending upwards, and rookie Lauri Markannan has been coming into his own. The Bulls have two tough road games coming up this week against New Orleans and Philadelphia, and then close out the week at home with the Lakers and Bucks.
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