MILWAUKEE (AP) 鈥� Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers want to show their last year was no fluke.
Indiana made its first playoff appearance since 2020 last season and had the longest postseason run of any Central Division team since Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to the
The fact the Pacers did that as a explains why they won鈥檛 make a similar run this year.
鈥淓verybody鈥檚 been doubted one way or another, I mean our whole starting five,鈥� said Haliburton, a guard and Olympic gold medalist. 鈥淵ou know, me. We have a guy who was a second-round pick. A guy that got traded from his first team, a guy who played his first couple years and got traded, and a guy who鈥檚 been talked about being traded his whole career.
鈥淪o I think everybody has different motivations and I think that just adds chips on our shoulder as a group, and I think that鈥檚 the exciting part because I think that鈥檚 the reason there was so much success and hunger last year.鈥�
Indiana鈥檚 playoff run started with a over the Bucks, who have finished first in the Central Division each of the last six years but haven鈥檛 been able to translate that regular-season success into the postseason lately.
They鈥檝e exited in the opening round of the playoffs each of the last two seasons and want to make the most of their narrowing championship window as their nucleus gets older.
鈥淣o question, I think we can do it,鈥� Bucks center Brook Lopez said. 鈥淥ur guys are definitely hungry.鈥�
While the Bucks want to put their recent playoff misfortunes behind them, the Cleveland Cavaliers are eager to pick up where they left off last year.
Cleveland went 48-34 last year to finish a game behind Milwaukee and of the playoffs for the first time since making the last of four straight Finals appearances
The Cavaliers followed that up by signing All-Star guard to a three-year, $150.3 million
鈥淲e believe in our group,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淚 believe in us. That鈥檚 why I re-signed here. I think for us, now it鈥檚 on us to go out there and execute.鈥�
A look at each team in the Central Division in predicted order of finish:
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks believe they from having some time to work together after going through so much upheaval last year, from just before training camp to and as coach at midseason.
This remains a formidable team when everyone鈥檚 healthy, but that hasn鈥檛 been the case very often lately. Counting the playoffs, the Bucks had Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Lillard all available for only last season.
Antetokounmpo has missed all or part of the Bucks鈥� last two playoff series due to injuries, so keeping the two-time MVP healthy is paramount. The Bucks are hoping the offseason additions of veteran free agents Gary Trent Jr., Delon Wright and Taurean Prince can boost the depth of their top-heavy roster.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Turns out, Mitchell really does like it in
The All-Star guard鈥檚 decision to sign a long-term contract extension this summer should keep the Cavs among the Eastern Conference鈥檚 elite for the next few seasons.
If forward Evan Mobley further develops his offensive game, the Cavs will be a problem and an NBA title contender. The pressure is on new coach who spent the past three seasons on Steve Kerr鈥檚 staff in Golden State. He takes over for who guided the club through a massive rebuild that began when LeBron James left six years ago for the Lakers.
Indiana Pacers
figured things went so well with last season鈥檚 surprising run to the Eastern Conference finals, they brought back their entire starting five and all but two players from the bench.
Haliburton, the reigning league champion in assists, will again anchor one an offense that flirted with breaking the NBA鈥檚 all-time scoring record. He鈥檒l be paired with Pascal Siakam, who managed to spend a whole offseason working out with his Pacers teammates after that might have sparked their postseason success.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls come into the season with a different look and major question marks. The biggest question involves and his future.
broke up its core after missing the playoffs for the second year in a row and sixth time in seven seasons. Six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan wound up in Sacramento through a three-team, sign-and-trade. Alex Caruso got dealt to Oklahoma City for Josh Giddey in a swap of guards.
But LaVine remains a Bull, at least for now.
The two-time All-Star had season-ending foot surgery in February and is in the middle of a five-year, $215.16 million contract extension he signed after 2021-22 season.
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons are desperately hoping to take steps toward relevance after a disappointing season in which they tied an NBA record by losing 28 straight games within a single season.
revamped its leadership group for the latest rebuilding effort, hiring as president of basketball operations and as coach to replace the fired and
Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 pick overall in 2021, signed a extension to stay with a team that added some veterans in the offseason to join Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey. The Pistons signed Tobias Harris and Malik Beasley, acquired from Dallas in a trade and selected of the G League Ignite with the No. 5 pick in the NBA draft.
___
AP Sports Writers Larry Lage, Michael Marot, Andrew Seligman and Tom Withers contributed to this report.
___
AP NBA:
Steve Megargee, The Associated Press
