The Northwest Division is filled with up and coming teams that have the potential to compete with the NBA’s elite. Just two seasons ago, four of the five teams finished with 50 or more wins in the regular season and went on to make the playoffs. While only three teams made the playoffs last year, the Northwest Division suffered the losses of three of its brightest stars to trade and free agency. The Utah Jazz lost Carlos Boozer to Chicago during the off-season and then traded All-star point guard Deron Williams to New Jersey, and Denver dealt superstar Carmelo Anthony to New York.
This season seems promising for Kevin Durant and the young athletic Oklahoma City Thunder to top the division for the second straight year. As the Jazz look to rebuild after loosing their two star players, the Denver Nuggets are searching to find players to replace the ones they lost to China. The Minnesota Timberwolves, in the midst of all the hoopla of the lockout and hiring a new coach, hope that their nucleus of young talented players is finally ready to make the jump into a strong playoff run.
5. Utah Jazz
Last Season: 39-43, 4th Northwest
The Utah Jazz are a team in shambles at the moment. They failed to re-sign power forward Carlos Boozer during last year’s off-season, traded away their franchise point guard Deron Williams and lost their long time head coach Jerry Sloan. Now the Jazz have to find a new identity behind head coach and new leader Tyrone Corbin.
The Utah Jazz do have talent on this team, but it is up to them to figure out how to use it. Power forward Paul Millsap and center Al Jefferson picked up the scoring slack after the departure of Williams, but they will need to rely on point guard Devin Harris to run the team. Harris has the ability to take over games with his shooting skills. When he gets hot, he becomes a defense’s nightmare. He knows how to use his shot to his advantage. If the defender continues to back off, Harris will use the space to get his shot up, and if the defender plays tight, he uses his quickness to drive to the basket. Devin Harris becomes a triple threat when he is shooting exceptionally well-shooting, driving, and passing. It is his play that will propel this team to victory.
After flying to North Carolina to watch former Dallas Maverick forward Josh Howard, Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor was convinced that Howard would help the Jazz. After Howard passed his physical with team doctors, the Jazz took a gamble and signed Josh Howard.
The key to Jazz victory is to continue to play with the physicality that Jerry Sloan demanded and to find a true leader on the floor. The playoffs seem like a far stretch for this team, especially with a shortened season, but as one of the best home teams in the NBA, anything is possible.
Next Page: Wolves, Nuggets and More, Oh My!
4. Minnesota Timberwolves
Last Season: 17-65, 5th Northwest
It was no easy task for first year head coach Kurt Rambis as he tried to turn Minnesota into a winning team. He was unsuccessful, and as a result, was fired after the season. With a young core of players, the Timberwolves had to first learn how to lose before they could win. They did not get blown out in the majority of their games as their record might imply, but the talent on the team was enough to beat anyone who chose to overlook the match up.
Entering the new season, the Minnesota fans have a lot to look forward to. Perhaps the biggest news for the Wolves is that the long anticipated wait for Ricky Rubio is finally over. After being the fifth overall draft pick in 2009, the young Spanish star had to finish his contract overseas before playing in the NBA. As a result of his Timberwolves debut, their first pre-season game against Milwaukee sold 15,000 tickets, compared to less than 20,000 tickets sold in two pre-season games combined last year.
New head coach Rick Adelman must inspire his young squad with the premise that playing defense is the key to winning. Michael Beasley and Kevin Love must do the brunt of the work. However, with the additions of Ricky Rubio, and the 2011 second overall draft pick, Derrick Williams from the University of Arizona, Beasley and Love could have some back up weapons.
With a new coach, a new system, and some new faces, Minnesota should have a better year than the last one. They just need to make sure they rely on their stars for help.
3. Denver Nuggets
Last Season: 50-32, 2nd Northwest
The Denver Nuggets, despite winning 50 games and grabbing the fifth seed in the playoffs, battled through adversity last season dealing with the constant trade talks surrounding NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony. After the distraction of losing Melo to not losing Melo, back to losing him again, he and Chauncey Billups, were finally traded to the New York Knicks for Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, and Raymond Felton. The trade finally allowed the Nuggets to focus more on basketball.
This will probably be an off year for Denver, as the NBA lockout seemed to really hurt their line-up. Due to the strike, they lost three key players, Wilson Chandler, Kenyon Martin and J.R Smith, who contracted to play in the Chinese Basketball Association. At the time of their signing, the NBA season looked bleak. As a result, they are forced to play out the CBA’s season, which ends in mid February, before being allowed to return to the NBA. The Nuggets are going to have to find players to fill the big shoes those three left behind.
Denver has not been quiet since the lockout ended knowing they had to fill roster spots quickly. While still working out a deal to resign starter Aaron Afflalo, they were able to come to terms with center Nene, and re-sign him to a five-year deal. They also acquired Andre Miller, Corey Brewer, and Rudy Fernandez from Dallas and sent Raymond Felton to the Portland Trail Blazers.
All in all, this year’s lockout seemed to force a rebuilding of the Denver Nuggets. It is going to take some time for this group of players to familiarize themselves with each other as well, as well as with the coaching scheme of George Karl. However, with a strong front line in Nene, Chris Anderson, and Al Harrington, the Nuggets need to rely on their speed and shooting. If they use their speed to penetrate the defense, they can create scoring opportunities from lay-ups or getting to the foul line. By being the aggressive team and by sucking in the defense allowing for the kick out pass to a wide-open shooter, the Nuggets could find ways to be productive this season.
Playing a fast pace, run and gun type of game, is the key to a successful season for the Denver Nuggets.
Next Page: Leaders of the Pack
2. Portland Trail Blazers
Last Season: 48-34, 3rd Northwest
The Portland Trail Blazers had a sub-par season last year because of the injuries sustained by Brandon Roy and Greg Oden. They still finished with the sixth seed in the Western Conference before losing to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs. Despite the early knockout, Blazer fans thought that the late return of Roy from his injuries was a good sign for things to come; unfortunately, it was just the opposite.
Suffering from chronic knee problems that have required multiple surgeries, Brandon Roy was forced to retire from the NBA this year. Roy does not have enough cartilage in both of his knees to be able to continue a basketball career. To make matters worse for Portland, it’s been reported that Oden is once again expected to miss the entire NBA season.
On the bright side, Portland has been very busy this off-season working to fill the absence of Brandon Roy. They picked up point guard Raymond Felton from Denver in a three-team deal, trading Andre Miller in the process. Felton is entering the last year of his contract, which means if he wants a better contract, he will give Portland his very best.
Additionally, Portland signed free agent Jamal Crawford from Atlanta, a bench player who can come in and score 20 points on any given night. Crawford deepens the bench, allowing Portland the comfort of not relying solely on their starters.
Look for Portland to battle the Thunder for the best record in the Northwest division this season. As one of the toughest teams in the NBA, the Portland Trail Blazers have what it takes to go deep into the playoffs. Their off-season pick-ups made them much more difficult to defend, and when they play at home, they are almost impossible to beat.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Last Season: 55-27, 1st Northwest
The 2010-11 season was Oklahoma City’s best in franchise history as they won the Northwest Division for the first time. They made the playoffs for the second straight year with the fourth seed in the Western Conference. The Thunder were projected to go deep into the playoffs but their plans were foiled by a determined Dallas Mavericks team that went on to win the NBA championship.
This Oklahoma City team is stacked with young players. Lead by All-Star and last year’s scoring champion, Kevin Durant, the Thunder are a pre-season front-runner to represent the Western Conference in this year’s Finals. Surrounding Durant are strong shooters like Thabo Sefolosha, James Harden, and Daequan Cook, who all played significant roles in last year’s playoffs. Leading the frontcourt are Serge Ibaka and former Boston Celtic, Kendrick Perkins, who brings championship experience to a young team. Both players are interchangeable at the center and power forward spot, which benefits the Thunder because it allows them to make the right match up against any team.
Point guard Russell Westbrook is the key player in the Thunder’s success. Young, athletic and very talented, this third year veteran out of UCLA still has a lot to learn about playing team ball. While his aggressive nature can be an amazing attribute to have, one must learn when and when not to use it. He gets his team into trouble trying to be the hero when his team already has one.
Kevin Durant is a proven big shot player, and as it is his teammates’ job to get him the ball during important possessions. Westbrook tries to do too much that is not in his ability.
For the Thunder to be successful, they will need to continue to play with the defensive mentality they had last year. That means always be in help side position, putting pressure on the ball, and making sure to limit second chance points.
Offensively, they need to rely on Durant more at the end of games. He has the ability to always get the right and best shot in any situation. He can create scoring opportunities for himself, or draw the double team and kick it out the open player.
Look for The Thunder to earn a top three seed in the Western Conference playoffs this year.