How Will The Central Division Play Out Next Season?

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May 28, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (24) brings the ball upcourt as Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) defends during the fourth quarter in game five of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats Miami 93-90. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

4th Place – Indiana Pacers – 42-40

This Indiana Pacers squad should be better than they were last season (four wins better, according to me), but I don’t think they’re going to be close to their peak yet. This roster has young players who haven’t really played much together, and assembling a whole new team means it’ll take a bit for chemistry to build.

That being said, this team still has Paul George and Monta Ellis. Given that they stay relatively healthy, it should be a certainty that Indiana is giving some higher seed trouble in the post-season. People may have forgotten since his injury woes, but Paul George is a top forward in the entire NBA and a true two-way superstar–if he’s healthy, this is never an easy team to beat.

But they’re not impossible to beat either, and I have concerns about their interior defense (Jordan Hill and Myles Turner are far from established NBA rim protectors) and depth. They’re still a better team than the Pistons are, but I don’t have them edging any of the other three teams just yet–mostly because they’re all really good.

Well, maybe not really good. But the next three teams are all at least relatively good, and one of them has the best player on the planet. We’ll get there later, though. For now let’s return home.

Next: Bucking The Trend Of Not Having Winning Seasons