Previewing the Bucks Opponents: Pistons and Cavaliers Preview
Vegas casino owners did not build those beautiful buildings and structures by giving away money. With that in mind it is always interesting to look at the odds. According to one really online betting platform Milwaukee is -360. (Excellent odds.) The Cavaliers are +260 and are the second closest. Detroit is a lowly +25000. (Bet $100 on the Pistons and you could end up with a cool $25,000.)
With the NBA season only nine days away, let’s take a closer look at the roster construction of the Cavaliers and Pistons. Should the Bucks have much to worry about here? What kind of success will Donovan Mitchell or first-overall pick Cade Cunningham have this year?
Milwaukee has won the Central Division crown for five years in a row.
Cleveland is a tall, quick team. Having won 51 games last season things did not end up the way the planned with a tough playoff loss to the New York Knicks. But being tall and being quick does not make you tough. That lack of “toughness” was exposed by New York in the playoffs. Can the Bucks beat them by “out-toughing” them?
The Cavs added Max Struss. He can play and should be a bigger piece for them than some are predicting. He projects as a starter.
Donovan Mitchell is a star! The Cavaliers gave up a lot to get him and he has proven to be worth it. Jarret Allen is a good interior defender. He still is Cleveland’s true starting center, averaging 14 points and 11 rebounds per game last season.
Evan Mobley is the same. Taken 3rd overall in the 2021 draft, Mobley averaged around 16 points a game and 9 rebounds. He can play and will give the Bucks trouble in certain match-ups. The Cavs just picked up his 4th year option.
The backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland is looking very impressive. Garland just scored 51 against the Timberwolves in an NBA game. Mitchell averaged 31 points per game. They play very well together and Garland does a good job of distributing the ball.
The Cavs also added Georges Niang and Carius Lavert. Both will be valuable bench pieces.
The projected Cavaliers starting lineup looks to be Darius Garland and the point guard position, Donovan Mitchell and shooting guard, Max Struss at small forward, Evan Mobley at power forward and Jarett Allen at center.
Cade Cunningham could end up being the real deal. Drafted first overall out of Oklahoma State, he missed a ton of time last season with a shin injury.
Detroit is young. In 2022 they drafted Jaden Ivey (5th overall) and Jalen Durren (13th overall) and both players struggled during stretches last season. This past draft they drafted Ausar Thompson. The Pistons also often have to start two “point guards” in Killian Hayes and Ivey. Both guys are really young. That leads to them turning the ball over quite a bit. They averaged over 15 turnovers a game.
James Wiseman could be a really nice piece for Detroit. He was acquired in one of those wild 4 team NBA deals.
Detroit’s projected starting line-up includes Cunningham at point guard, rookie Ausar Thompson at shooting guard, Bojan Bojanovic at small forward, Isaiah Steward at power forward and Jalen Durren at center. Jaden Ivey projects as an impactful 6th man for this squad.
Detroit would love to return to the “glory days”. The Pistons have won three NBA championships (1989, 1990, and 2004).
The Pistons are owned by Tom Gores. He has a net worth of 6.2 billion dollars. @authorrudylb and check out my other writings at www.rudylb.com. Follow us at @WiSportsHeroicsmerch store for some amazing WSH merchandise!
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