Midway through the 2014-15 NBA season, there are a lot close division races taking place throughout the league.

One of the most intriguing divisional races this year is currently taking place in the Central Division. As expected, the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers are fighting for the top spot in division. The second half of the season promises to be very exciting and dramatic as fans watch the playoffs inch closer and closer.

The Bulls have led the division the entire season despite the fact that former MVP Derrick Rose has missed games due to injuries. Singing Pau Gasol has proven to be a wise investment, as the 34-year-old Spaniard leads the team in rebounds, blocked shots and is making more than 80 percent of his free throws. Gasol will be playing in his fifth career All-Star game this season. For the first time in NBA history, we will see two brothers start against one another in the All-Star game, as Marc Gasol was elected as well.

Although the Bulls lead the division with a 28-16 record, many still remain skeptical on their longevity.

The Bulls have lost four of their last six games, and believe it or not, defense has been an issue. Tom Thibodeau is one of the best defensive coaches in the league, but the Bulls rank just 15th overall in points allowed. That's very uncharacteristic for a Bulls team.

Joakim Noah has missed the last four games because of a right ankle injury.

At 23-20, the Cavaliers are in second place in the Central Division. Since LeBron James' return, the Cavaliers are slowly turning things around. Last year the Cavaliers won just 33 games all season. David Blatt has been the most criticized head coach in the league, and Kevin Love has struggled defensively. Regardless of early season struggles, the Cavaliers have won four consecutive games in which they scored more than 100 points each contest.

The Bulls have a recent history falling short to LeBron James-led teams. In the 2010 postseason, the Bulls were eliminated by the Cavaliers in the first round. The very next year, the Bulls made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Championship, but again, lost to a LeBron James-led squad. The Heat won that series four games to one. In the 2013 NBA playoffs, James and the Heat eliminated the Bulls in five games.

The Cavaliers are 2-0 against the Bulls this season, and the two teams will play each other two more times this year.

Thanks to Brandon Knight, the Milwaukee Bucks are right in the mix of the Central Division standings. Although 21-21, they are the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. Surprisingly, the Bucks have a losing record at home this year, but a winning record on the road. The Bucks don't have an elite superstar player, but playing dedicated defense has led to the No. 5 ranked defense in the NBA.

The Detroit Pistons may have just 17 wins, but they've been hot lately since waiving Josh Smith. The Pistons have won seven of their last 10 games, and are just one game out of a playoff spot behind the Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets. In last place in the Central Division sits the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers have a great defense led by Roy Hibbert, David West and Luis Scola but the injury to Paul George holds the team back offensively far too much.

Central Division Standings (as of Jan. 23)

1. Chicago Bulls: 28-16

2. Cleveland Cavaliers: 23-20

3. Milwaukee Bucks: 21-21

4. Detroit Pistons: 17-26

5. Indiana Pacers: 15-29

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