How the East was Lost: Central Division
Miwaukee Bucks: Defense; Frontcourt consistency
Why the Bucks passed on Corey Brewer or Joakim Noah for Yi Jianlian will never make sense to me. The Bucks are in dire need of defensive help and either Gator would have helped immensely. Yi might be very good but he doesn't really add anything that the team isn't getting out of Charlie Villanueva and Andrew Bogut. Desmond Mason was a solid signing at 2 years, 11 million but I don't see him solving the Bucks' defensive issues.
Yi and Mason also won't do much to help the Bucks' offensive issues this season either. While Michael Redd and Mo Williams were solid (when healthy), Milwaukee never knew what to expect out of Bogut or Villanueva. Those two need to improve their consistency and their output altogether. Those two averaged 23 points a game last season combined. They need to up that by at least 50% if the Bucks want to get back to the playoffs next season.
Indiana Pacers: Three point shooting, guard play
For all the terrible moves that Larry Bird has made, hiring Jim O'Brien to lead the team might salvage the wreck. The problem, though, is that the Pacers don't have enough three point shooters to effectively run Obie's offense. After Troy Murphy and Danny Granger, the Pacers don't really have anyone who can nail the three. Mike Dunleavy Jr. shot a putrid 28% last season. The Travis Diener signing could help out but when you're relying on Travis Diener, your playoff hopes are probably not so good.
While a Jermaine O'Neal, Troy Murphy, Danny Granger frontcourt isn't too bad, the backcourt leaves a lot to be desired. Jamaal Tinsley is incosistent when he's healthy and the backup is either Darrell Armstrong or Travis Diener. Both are OK but are better suited for the third PG slot. The shooting guard slot is even worse. Marquis Daniels is solid but not a good fit for the Pacers and the only other true shooting guard is the recently signed Kareem Rush. If Jermaine O'Neal isn't traded now, I can't imagine that we won't be hearing trade demands out of Indy come the trade deadline.
Chicago Bulls: Post scoring
The decision to deal LaMarcus Aldridge for Tyrus Thomas will likely haunt the Bulls for some time. While Thomas showed an improved jumpshot during this year's summer league, that's not what the Bulls needed. The draft yieled Joakim Noah who seems more like Ben Wallace's heir apparent than someone who'll complement Wallace in the coming years. Joe Smith is a solid signing but isn't the answer. Neither is second round pick Aaron Gray. The Bulls still have one of the best teams in the East but until they add someone who they can depend on in a half-court offense, they won't be seeing the Finals.
Cleveland Cavaliers: 2nd star, re-signing their free agents
While Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Donyell Marshall, and Daniel Gibson are solid running mates for LeBron James, he's still a Batman without a Robin. As it is now, head coach Mike Brown has to preach defense because he knows that his team won't be able to run with the elite teams in the NBA. Danny Ferry needs to get LeBron a #2 star or else the Cavs will never be able to get past whichever Western Conference foe they meet in the Finals. Also, the team needs to re-sign Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic or find a way to replace them. If they let those two walk, I doubt the Cavaliers will be picked by many to be the team to beat in their division, let alone the Eastern Conference.
Detroit Pistons: Focus, minutes from the youth
The key to the Pistons is whether the veterans come together and make a real push towards winning. Last year, the Pistons seemed more focused on yelling at Flip Saunders than giving that extra effort to win games.
One thing that could help the Pistons regain some of their attitude will be a push by the young players to get minutes and help the team. Jason Maxiell, Amir Johnson and rookie Rodney Stuckey seem the most likely to get minutes and help the team win. If these players can mature to inject some youthful exuberance into the Pistons lineup, Detroit should be back in the NBA finals. If there are any finals pieces the team could use, its a shooter off of the bench and one more big body off of the pine.
