The fifth part of this six-piece Midseason Report Card series spotlights the Central Division.  The Central division has had a representative in the Eastern Conference Finals for each of the past six years (thanks Detroit) and looks primed to add another year onto the streak, thanks to the dominance that the Cleveland Cavaliers have shown this season.  Throw in the timeless Pistons and the up-and-coming Pacers, Bucks, and Bulls, and we are looking at multiple teams from the Central heading to the playoffs.

Click here to read Part One of the series on the Northwest Division

Click here to read Part Two of the series on the Pacific Division

Click here to read Part Three of the series on the Southwest Division

Click here to read Part Four of the series on the Southeast Division

Chicago

The Bulls are basically the Final Four All-Star Team.  Look at all of the former Final Four players in their rotation: Derrick Rose, Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, Drew Gooden, Joakim Noah, Tyrus Thomas, and Kirk Hinrich.  Too bad the college success isn?t really translating into pro success?yet.  

Team MVP: Derrick Rose

I realize he?s only a rookie in his first half of NBA action, but is there a better candidate for this team?  D-Rose has been amazing this season and has averaged a healthy 16.8 points, 6.3 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game ? all impressive numbers for a rookie point guard.

Needs Improvement:  Larry Hughes? attitude

As the Bulls look to the future with their youth movement, it has become obviously clear that 30-year old Larry Hughes is not a part of it.  However, rather than sulk away on the bench and call his time with the Bulls ?almost a non-experience,? perhaps he could help the team get over the hump and contend for the eighth seed in the East.

Best Move: Taking D-Rose over Mike Beasley

D-Rose will be an elite point guard.  There is no doubt about it.  While this bar is incredibly high, he has the tools to supplant Chris Paul as the league?s best point guard in only a couple of years.  While Beasley is a nice player in Miami, he does not possess the ultra potential at one of the most important positions on the floor like Rose does.  While the jury is still out on the Oden over Durant Decision, the Rose over Beasley decision looks solid.

Biggest Surprise:  Tyrus Thomas

I refuse to mention Rose again.  Oops, I just did.   After watching the former number-four overall pick Tyrus Thomas meander throughout his days as a Chicago Bull, it appears new coach Vinny Del Negro has Thomas on board.  Ty is averaging career numbers in every statistical category (8.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, 81.2% FT% in 24 mpg) and seems to finally fit into the Bulls' scheme.  Throw in the fact that he?s getting plenty of perfect lob passes from D-Rose (great, I mentioned him again), and the Bulls finally appear to be utilizing Thomas? talents.

First Half Grade: C+

Integrating a rookie point guard into any team is tough, especially in the tough town of Chicago.  But the Bulls have a very solid future ahead of themselves.

Cleveland

The Cavs are off to a 21-0 start at home.  That is ridiculous.  LeBron and Co. have transformed into a powerhouse this season, and it appears they are on a collision course with Boston for the Eastern Conference crown.

Team MVP: Jawad Willi?no, kidding, LeBron James

As much as Jawad Williams was a key member of the North Carolina?s championship team a couple year?s back, he hasn?t quite had the same impact this season for the Cavs.  But, LeBron James continues to ascend as Earth?s Best Basketball Player.  LeBron is averaging a boring 27.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.98 steals, and 1.28 blocks.  To put that in perspective, nobody on the Knicks at all averages more than 0.80 blocks or 1.53 steals, and Duhon ? a pass-first point guard playing in D?Antoni?s system ? barely edges LeBron with 8.0 assists.

Needs Improvement:  Ben Wallace

It?s safe to say that the bell is no longer tolling too loudly for Wallace.  The former defensive menace is losing a step or seven and is only averaging 3.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game despite starting nearly every Cavs' game.  

Best Move: Stealing Mo Williams from the Bucks

This was intended to be the move that put the Cavs into position to take down the Celtics, and it appears that Williams is the perfect fit.  He has thrived next to LeBron and gives them an invaluable weapon when defenses stick all five guys on LeBron.

Biggest Surprise: Delonte West

After an offseason struggle that almost saw West jettisoned from the team, Delonte has been putting up some stellar numbers for Cleveland.  In his first full season on the club, he has put up a career-best 12.3 points while connecting on 40.9% from three-point land.  

First Half Grade: A+

What more do you want?  A perfect road record too?

Detroit

For the first time since the beginning of the decade, the Pistons are on the outside of the Eastern Conference upper echelon looking in. After six straight trips to the conference finals, the Pistons find themselves sitting right in the middle of the playoff picture, battling for home court in the first round.

Team MVP:  Tayshaun Prince

While Allen Iverson may lead the team in points, assists, and steals, I would be remiss to name him team MVP.  It?s hard to argue for a guy, who since being acquired for past undisputed team MVP Chauncey Billups, has hurt overall team chemistry and muddled the rotation. Instead, I'm going with perennial glue guy and Olympic Gold Medalist Tayshaun Prince. He continues to put up numbers quietly, averaging 14.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3 assists per game.  He also remains the team's best defender, always assigned to the opponent's star player.  Take away Prince from the Pistons, and they are left with no other real option at the 3 and no true defensive stopper.

Needs Improvement:  Michael Curry

Joe Dumars didn't do the first-year head coach any favors by trading away Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson's expiring contract.  Throw in the fact that they?ve been struck by a number of injuries after years of good fortune in that department, and Curry has yet to prove himself as a capable NBA head coach. Dumars ousted player-friendly coach Flip Saunders in lieu of an unproven assistant and former player, who was brought in because of his no-nonsense attitude and supposed ability to motivate the rank and file.  On the contrary, this year's team has played with unquestionably less motivation than in recent years past. Curry?s decision to send Rip Hamilton to the bench in favor of Allen Iverson has ?huge mistake? written all over it.

Best Move: Promoting Rodney Stuckey

It's been well documented that Joe Dumars is a huge fan of the second-year guard from little-known Eastern Washington. Even Joe has to be surprised by how quickly the Stuckman has elevated his game and taken control of this team.  His scoring numbers have increased each month to 17.1 ppg in the month of January.  Perhaps his best attribute is that he's not afraid of the spotlight.  He yearns for the ball in crunch time ever since he stepped up in last season?s first round playoff series against Philadelphia, where he hit multiple crucial buckets down the stretch. Furthermore, it's evident that he only wants to get better. Take a look at his improvements in FG% (up 7% this year to 47%) and 3PT% (up 16% this year to 34.7%).

Biggest Surprise: The AI debacle

While the AI trade was made possible by the aforementioned ascension of Stuckey, it certainly hasn't been a recipe for success this season.  Many view AI as being most valuable to the Pistons simply because of his $21M expiring contract.  Dumars, however, assured the media that he loves AI's game and has always wanted him in Detroit.  That's all fine and dandy, except for the presence of Richard Hamilton, who was signed to a three-year extension over the summer. The end result is an unclear rotation that will inevitably hurt egos and affect the team.  A defined rotation has been a hallmark of this team during its years of success.  For instance, it makes sense to start a true power forward like Amir Johnson or Antonio McDyess, rather than playing small and going with Prince at the 4 and the three-headed dragon of Stuckey, AI, and Hamilton in the backcourt.  AI plays better with "four stiffs," as eloquently put by Chris Webber, and Rip plays better when he can get into the flow of a game with his movement and running off screens.  Another detriment is that this lineup leaves no playing time for Arron Afflalo, who has been very effective when given the chance to play.  Instead, Will Bynum steps in as the backup point guard for an unknown reason and is immediately paired with Rip.  A much more effective backcourt pairing of Stuckey and Rip as the starters, with AI and Afflalo coming off the bench is what the Pistons need to get in gear.

First Half Grade:  C+

It's hard to call this team anything other than mediocre right now. The play of Rodney Stuckey has certainly made the loss of Chauncey Billups much easier for Pistons fans to swallow. If Detroit can figure out their rotation, preferably putting Rip back with the starters where he belongs and sending AI to the bench, this will be a dangerous team come playoff time.

Indiana

The Pacers missed the playoffs for the second straight year in 2007-08, and after undergoing a significant overhaul, they are playing decent basketball. Unfortunately, they often have trouble executing at the end of games.

Team MVP: Danny Granger

This is probably the easiest question to answer when discussing the Pacers. Granger is fourth in the NBA in scoring, and has hit numerous game-winning shots to keep Indiana in playoff contention. Granger even dominated offensively when Mike Dunleavy was out, no small feat with teams able to double-team him.

Needs Improvement:  Brandon Rush

Rush has looked lost on the floor with Indiana in his first season. Early on, with Dunleavy out, coach Jim O'Brien leaned on Rush for minutes. It didn't matter that the Pacers were short-handed, Rush was soon out of the rotation and isn't going to get much time with the team at full-stretch on the wing.

Best Move: Trading Jermaine O'Neal/Acquiring Jarrett Jack

The Pacers made a pair of trades related to draft night, and both have had positive effects. Trading O'Neal give the Pacers T.J. Ford, who is tremendous when he's playing well, and two interior bodies in Rasho Nesterovic and Roy Hibbert. The hope is that Hibbert will develop into a legitimate post threat in the near future. Acquiring Jack from Portland in a deal that involved Ike Diogu and the swapping of Rush and Jerryd Bayless has been a godsend. He fills in nicely when Ford is either injured or struggling.

Biggest Surprise:  Marquis Daniels

Daniels is averaging a career-high 13.9 points this season, and was vital to the team when Dunleavy was out for a majority of the first half. Prior to this season, his time with the Pacers had been a disappointment because of both a knee issue and a jumbled rotation. Instead of having to count on a rookie like Rush, O'Brien was able to play Daniels 35 minutes a night to lessen the blow of Dunleavy's absence. With that said, it remains to be seen how he'll adapt to fewer minutes in the second half.

First Half Grade:  C-

A strong run before the All-Star break would put Indiana in decent position to challenge for a playoff spot as the season wears down. However, if they stumble into the break, their postseason chances will be doomed. They can thank their inability to close out games and execute in the final minute for their fate.

Milwaukee

The Bucks have taken to new coach Scott Skiles and have been hovering around the final Eastern playoff spot all season.  But a devastating season-ending injury to star guard Michael Redd will only make reaching the postseason more difficult for the Bucks.

Team MVP: Andrew Bogut

While this could have been Redd had it not been for his injury, the best choice has to be Andrew Bogut.  The Bucks struggle when Bogut is out of the lineup as they have gone 17-17 with and 5-10 without the big Aussie.  His presence in the paint is sorely needed to support this well balanced team.

Needs Improvement:  Joe Alexander

The Bucks loved what they saw from the extremely athletic product out of West Virginia, enough to take him over guys like Brook Lopez and D.J. Augustin.  Alexander may thrive with consistent playing time, but thus far he hasn?t lived up to his draft position.

Best Move: Getting Richard Jefferson for Yi

I still remember the uproar of laughter from the cohorts at the Draft when someone mentioned that the Nets gave RJ away for Yi and Bobby Simmons.  That right there, coupled with Jefferson?s 17.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and immeasurable impact on the team has him the ideal candidate for this category.

Biggest Surprise: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute

As the Draft unfolded and the Bucks were adding small forwards to the roster left and right, it only seemed logical for them to use a second round pick on yet another small forward.  But Mbah a Moute has been great for Milwaukee this season.  He?s contributed 7.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and has started 29 games already in his rookie season.

First Half Grade:  C+

Injuries have hurt this team, as they always do, but the Bucks have remained atop the list of playoff hopefuls vying for the final spot.  But without Redd, will they be able to squeak into the postseason?

Special thanks for the insight on this piece from Andrew Perna (Indiana) and Matt Cheesebro (Detroit).

Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts. He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments or questions.