You can find the first edition of this series here.
Trying to find under-the-radar players in the NBA is like the D.C. Universe movies – there are definitely some lows, but there are highlights here and there.
It’s time to do the same for the NBA’s Central Division.
The rules are the same as before – one player will be chosen from each team in the division to make up The All-Quietly Doing Well Team: Central Division.
Without further ado…
Milwaukee Bucks: Malcolm Brogdon
It feels odd to include the 2016-17 Rookie of the Year, but the former University of Virginia product has been overshadowed by his teammates.
Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to be a real-life cheat code, Brook Lopez is certifying his claim to be a Splash Cousin (and setting the NBA record for most attempted three-pointers in a game without a make), and Khris Middleton is starting to get some national recognition.
Lost in the shuffle is the former ROTY.
Brogdon is currently averaging career-highs in PPG (14.4), RPG (4.1), FG% (51), FT% (97.0, second in the league behind Jeff Green!) and 3P% (44.3).
In the advanced stats realm, Brogdon is also averaging career-highs in offensive and defensive ratings (109.8 and 102.9, respectively).
To do this on the lowest usage % (17.8) of his young career is impressive.
Indiana Pacers: Doug McDermott
McDermott was signed to a three-year, $22 million deal in the offseason, and it appears he hasn’t done much on his new contract… on paper.
Fact: McDermott is only averaging 5.7 PPG.
Also a fact: McDermott is shooting a scorching 68% from the floor and a solid 37.7% from beyond the arc on 2.8 3PA.
McDermott isn’t getting a lot of playing time (16.7 MPG), but maybe he should.
Last season, the Indiana Pacers’ offense was decent, ranking 17th in the league averaging 105.6 PPG. They also finished top-10 in opponent PPG (104.2).
This season, they’ve flipped the script, but not necessarily in a good way.
The good: this season’s Indiana Pacers are giving up the second-fewest points to their opponents on average, a minute 102.8 PPG.
The bad: the Indiana Pacers’ offense has regressed to the sixth-worst in the league, averaging a paltry 105.6 points per game.
There may still be some question marks about McDermott’s game, but he may hold some answers for this struggling Pacers team.
Speaking of the Pacers…
Detroit Piston: Glenn Robinson III
… the former Pacer joined the division rival Detroit Pistons in hopes to recoup some value after an ankle injury that required surgery and caused Robinson to miss most of last season. While he hasn’t gotten a ton of playing time (16.8 MPG), the former Dunk Contest participant has done well in limited action.
Robinson’s 6.5 PPG or 45.2 FG% doesn’t necessarily inspire confidence, but his shooting from the floor is fifth-best on the team. Despite receiving inconsistent playing time, Robinson has played really well as a starter.
In eight starts so far this season, Robinson has averaged 8.8 PPG and 1.4 RPG on .442/.375/.882 shooting compared to just 3.9 PPG and 1.7 RPG on .476/.200/.857 splits in seven games off the bench.
Four of the starting five is pretty much set in stone (barring an injury, Jackson-Bullock-Griffin-Drummond), but it may behoove Dwane Casey to take the perpetually struggling Stanley Johnson (39.0 FG%, 28.8 3P%, 77.0 offensive rating in losses) out of the starting lineup and give the Michigan product a shot.
Chicago Bulls: Justin Holiday
The second-best Holiday brother has been balling in the Windy City.
Yes, Holiday has appeared and started in all 19 games for the Bulls this season, but just because a player starts doesn’t necessarily mean they should be.
Luckily, that isn’t the case for Holiday.
So far this season, Justin Holiday is ripping twine on 41.1% of his three-point attempts; taking 7.4 threes per contest. 72% of Holiday’s minutes have come at SG, but for whatever reason ESPN doesn’t have his should-be eighth-ranked 3P% among shooting guards.
Holiday gets no love either on ESPN for his should-be sixth-ranked league-wide 93.8 FT%.
Long a bench mainstay prior to joining the Bulls, Holiday is Chicago’s third-leading scorer, averaging 12.7 PPG.
He may not be good as his middle brother, Jrue, but Justin has been consistent for the rebuilding Bulls – and that’s not a bad thing at all.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Rodney Hood
Rodney Hood’s first season in Cleveland was a tale of two halves – the regular season and the postseason.
After being traded from Utah, Hood averaged a modest 10.8 PPG on .442/.352/.813 shooting splits in 25.3 MPG. Then, either the pressure of playing with LeBron and/or playing on a Finals contender got to him, and he averaged a paltry 5.4 PPG on .424/.167/750 shooting splits.
After the Warriors swept the Cavs in the Finals, Hood’s once-promising free agency stock became as valuable as Carmelo Anthony in today’s NBA. He was essentially forced to sign a one-year deal with the Cavs to recoup value, and he certainly has.
Hood has started and played in every game so far this season, averaging 27.9 MPG. In that time, he’s averaging 13.4 PPG on .444/.438/.927 shooting splits. He’s converting 66.7% of his attempts 0-3 feet from the rim and only 57.1% of his three-pointers have been assisted so far this season.
The only knock (historically) against Hood’s game has been his defense, and that’s no different this season.
At home, Hood plays well on paper:
13.8 PPG, 47.2 FG%, 41.7 3P%, 88.9 FT%, 3.4 RPG, 2.5 APG
And, on the road, plays about the same (?):
13.0 PPG, 42.0 FG%, 45.8 3P%, 95.7 FT%, 2.1 RPG, 1.8 APG
But, then you get to his offensive and defensive ratings and things get ugly:
Home: 123 ORTG, 113 DRTG
Road: 113 ORTG, 122 DRTG
Overall that averages out to a 117 ORTG and 118 DRTG for the season.
TL:DR: Hood is one of the only reasons Cleveland’s anemic 27th-ranked offense (104.4 PPG) isn’t ranked any lower and has certainly contributed to the Cavs ranking 19th in team defense (111.7 opponent PPG).
For better or worse the Cavs need Hood, but it remains to be seen if Hood can keep this up as the season goes on.
Next week: the Southeast Division!