NBA Northwest Division Preview
Nuggets, Blazers, Jazz All Have Division Title Aspirations
Oct 28, 2009
The Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, and Utah Jazz will all do battle in what promises to be a very competitive division. Here is a preview:
Denver Nuggets Season Preview
The Denver Nuggets are coming off a breakthrough season where they made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals. They have an excellent frontline with bruisers Nene and Kenyon Martin along with one of the best scorers in the league in Carmelo Anthony. They have a quality veteran point guard in Chauncey Billips. J.R. Smith is a solid shooting guard. They lost Dahntay Jones, though, and that is a significant loss. He was one of their best defenders and without him, they will have problems guarding teams on the perimeter. They will still be very good but another contender in this division got better, so another division title is unlikely.
Prediction: Second Place
Minnesota Timberwolves Season Preview
Minnesota won 24 games last year and it is hard to picture them being much better this year. They have a stud in Al Jefferson but he is coming off a torn ACL. Kevin Love is a decent center and Johnny Flynn should help but this team doesn't have much depth. It will be another long year for the TImberwolves and a miracle if they finish out of the cellar.
Prediction: Fifth Place
Oklahoma City Thunder Season Preview
This is a team that has a promising future. They have an nice nucleus with Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook, promising rookie James Harden, and Kevin Durant, already one of the top scorers in the league. Shaun Livingston, if healthy could also provide this team with a boost. Because of their lack of depth and relative inexperience, they are still a year or two away from being a playoff contender, but this team, if nothing else, should be fun to watch.
Prediction: Fourth Place
Portland Trail Blazers Season Preview
After a disappointing first round exit in last year's playoffs, this team is ready to take the next step this year. They have an excellent 1-2 punch in Brandon Roy, well on his way to becoming a top 5 player in the NBA, and Lamarcus Aldridge, a great second option. If Greg Oden can stay healthy he should be a presence in the middle with his defense and rebounding. He needs to stay away from silly fouls, though. The addition of Andre Miller is what will put this team over the top in this division. Miller was a big factor in Philadelphia being one of the most overachieving teams in the NBA the last couple years. He is an excellent floor leader who can score and distribute. The Blazers will be a team no one wants to play in the post-season.
Prediction: First Place
Utah Jazz Season Preview
The Jazz finished last year as the #8 seed in the West and lost in the first round of the playoffs. They come back with pretty much the same team this year. Carlos Boozer missed significant time last year and was the subject of trade rumors in the off-season. Paul Milsap played very well in his absence and could take over for Boozer if he is moved. Deron WIlliams is one of the best young point guards in the league. He can score and distribute. Mehmet Okur is one of the best centers as far as being able to shoot from the outside. Ronnie Brewer is a decent scorer and Andrei Kirilenko is a very versatile player who contributes in many ways. This is a good team that should make the playoffs but they are looking at a quick exit once again.
Prediction: Third Place
