The 2025-26 NBA regular season is nearly here, with just about a week until games start to impact the playoff race. In preparation for the year ahead, the Sportscasting crew teamed up to highlight one key stat for every team that could have significant implications for their success or lack thereof this year. Up first is the Central Division.
Let’s get to it.
Chicago Bulls: 36.7
After placing among the bottom three in 3-point attempts every year from 2022 to 2024, the Chicago Bulls completely overhauled their offensive approach in 2024-25, finishing third in 3-point attempts per game. With 13 of their 16 top in minutes played from last year still on the roster, the Bulls will likely continue hoisting threes at a rapid rate.
As of now, the Bulls project to be a mediocre team – even in an Eastern Conference decimated by injuries. But the 3-point shot is the great equalizer. If you can hit it, you have the power to beat teams you probably shouldn’t. And if you can’t buy one, you run the risk of losing to inferior teams.
Last year, the Bulls’ conversion rate was right around average (36.7 percent, 13th in the NBA). If that continues in 2025-26, a fourth straight Play-In Tournament appearance is likely in their future. But if they can push that number into the top 10, or even the top five, they may be able to surprise some people and earn their first outright playoff berth since 2022. -Mat Issa
Cleveland Cavaliers: 0.81
The Cleveland Cavaliers owned the NBA’s best offense in 2024-25, spearheaded by head coach Kenny Atkinson’s versatile, adaptable deployment of his stars and role players. Opposing coaches inevitably spent the offseason toiling over how to slow the Cavs. With a mostly intact roster from last season, we should expect the Cavs to roll again on offense. But how will Atkinson iterate in his second season with the team?
Led by two dynamic on-ball creators and two excellent bigs, the Cavs’ 3-point shooting, brilliant off-ball movement and malleability drove their success. Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell and emerging offensive star Ty Jerome facilitated their outside-in approach. Cleveland was the premier 3-point offense last season, ranking second in efficiency (38.3 percent) and fifth in frequency (45.7 percent).
Jerome signed a healthy deal with the Memphis Grizzlies in free agency. Cleveland’s 3-point shooting dried up in the postseason, especially against Indiana, when it shot 29.4 percent beyond the arc. During the regular season, the Cavs logged the third-fewest post touches per game (2.0) but on top-ranked efficiency (0.81 points per post touch).
Against a faster, lighter postseason opponent like the Pacers, could Atkinson lean into more offensive initiation from the interior? Cleveland has (rightfully) gone away from Evan Mobley post-ups in favor of perimeter touches for him but Jarrett Allen has always been an effective post scorer. De’Andre Hunter is another effective face-up scoring option.
A Cleveland offense with more post initiation likely wouldn’t lead the NBA in efficiency on those touches. With this current build, the Cavs will always live and die by spacing and movement. But a normally adaptable Cavs team that sputters in the postseason must continue changing and evolving to finally break through, whether that’s more interior play or something else. -Ben Pfeifer
Detroit Pistons: 5.3
During Cade Cunningham’s breakout 2024-25, the Detroit Pistons were reliant upon him offensively like few other teams depended on their stars. Whether it be his 36.6 percent usage rate (third league-wide), 90.6 touches per game (fourth) or third-ranked time of possession, the Pistons demanded Cunningham wield his playmaking and scoring gifts to nearly unparalleled levels.
Cunningham delivered, earning the first All-Star and All-NBA berths of his career while slapping down 26-9-6 nightly. Yet when he rested, Detroit fell apart. Its offense was 5.3 points better per 100 possessions with him on the floor in the regular season and 5.1 points better in the playoffs.
On its own, that swing is not uniquely cause for concern. Plenty of other clubs experienced harsher splits when their stars sat last year. But the Pistons were barely an above-average offense with Cunningham out there and completely cratered without him. If they can’t wholeheartedly flourish when Cunningham directs the action, they have to stay afloat during his brief rests. Perhaps, a reshaped supporting cast and some internal growth can spur that.
Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson have replaced Dennis Schroder and Malik Beasley as key reserves. Jaden Ivey is healthy after missing the final 55 games of last season. Ausar Thompson is entering year three. Ron Holland II flashed an impressive driving game as a rookie.
Robinson and Jalen Duren could form a nifty dribble handoff connection fueled by Robinson’s shooting and passing, and Duren’s screening, finishing and short-roll facilitating. Ivey, Thompson and Holland could take leaps offensively to steady the non-Cunningham minutes. LeVert is no stranger to ball-handling reps and complementary creation.
But even with all those possibilities, it’s still something of a hodgepodge group searching for identity. The Pistons will need them to establish one bearing fruit if they hope to build upon the promise of 2024-25 and become a genuine player in the Eastern Conference this season. -Jackson Frank
Indiana Pacers: 8.6
Everyone who’s followed my work knows I believe Tyrese Haliburton is a tremendous player. It’s an absolute tragedy he won’t suit up for the 2025-26 NBA season. However, the Indiana Pacers won’t miss him too much defensively (28th percentile Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus, per Dunks & Threes).
Where they will miss him is offensively, namely in the half-court, where his blend of three-level scoring and astute decision-making give them a massive edge over the rest of the league. Last season, the Pacers were in the 92nd percentile in points per play on half-court possessions (per Cleaning the Glass). Haliburton was the primary driver here with a 96th percentile on-off split (plus-8.6 points per 100 possessions).
Indiana should still be able to run and gun in transition. But how will it score when teams are able to set their defense? Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam and Benedict Mathurin will have to take turns filling Haliburton’s shoes. How ready they all are for that challenge will determine how much Indiana drops off without Haliburton this season. -Mat Issa
Milwaukee Bucks: 13.1
Though it feels like the franchise is stumbling toward a cliff, waiving and stretching Damian Lillard and watching Giannis Antetokounmpo play “Should I Stay or Should I Go” in the public eye, you’ll recall the Milwaukee Bucks were a pretty good NBA team in 2024-25. Though they ultimately bowed out in the first round of the playoffs, they went a healthy 48-34, featuring the league’s seventh-ranked offense, per Cleaning the Glass.
Even in a down year, the departed Lillard averaged 25 points and seven assists. But curiously, Milwaukee had a slightly better offensive rating when he sat. Now, nobody is suggesting losing Lillard will actually improve Milwaukee’s offense. But perhaps the Bucks could still find themselves among the league’s best offenses with Cole Anthony, Kevin Porter Jr. and breakout candidate Ryan Rollins on ball-handling duty.
If that’ll happen, the Bucks will need to limit turnovers, as they did last season. In 2024-25, they finished with the fifth-lowest turnover rate in the league at 13.1 percent and were mere decimals away from the top three, a vital statistical success. Lillard undoubtedly gave their offense some stability, even if the fit with Antetokounmpo never fully materialized. But even with Lillard on the bench, their turnover rate was still top eight league-wide.
Antetokounmpo has achieved basketball mastery. Debate his exact placement among the Gods, but do not doubt his divinity. He will average something like 30-12-6 on 62 percent true shooting while, at the least, sniffing All-Defensive Team conversations and reminding people his passing is still underrated:
Great pass from Giannis Antetokounmpo. pic.twitter.com/5hpylSxB77
— Steve Jones (@stevejones20) March 12, 2025
So, if Milwaukee can continue to limit its own turnovers – and much of this comes down to that shaky guard room – then Antetokounmpo will lead the Bucks to another strong season. Whether that’s enough for him to remain in Milwaukee is a different conversation. -Lucas Kaplan
