Of all the divisions going into the 2010-2011 season. There may not be more questions marks than in the Northwest Division. With the Nuggets in flux with the Melo situation, the Blazers health concerns, Jefferson's ability to fill Boozer's former role, and the rise of NBA Christ Kevin Durant and whether or not he can lead the Oklahoma City to the Promised Land, this division can go in as many directions as Delonte West's sexual appetite.
All that being said, I still have a few hunches, and what better place to voice such hunches than on an NBA preview?! Exactly...so LET'S GO!
1) Utah Jazz (LY: 53-29, 2nd in the division, 5th in Conference, 2nd round exit)
When the world stability is thrown around, there is arguably no better coach than Jerry Sloan when it comes to consistency in coaching and getting the most out of given talent. He still runs the same offensive schemes, defensive hard-nosed mentality, and will defend his players when need be. It's no wonder he professional sports' longest tenured coach, and in his own words, "I don't know what else I would do if I weren't coaching." Needless to say, he's not going anywhere.
One of the major splashed this offseason was Boozer's departure to Chicago. That left a void in the Jazz's frontcourt, however it didn't take long to fill that void. With essentially giving up nothing (C Kosas Koufos and two future first round picks!), the Jazz were able to acquire Minnesota big man, Al Jefferson. (sidenote: If this was the Lakers, people would be up and arms about how unfair such a trade was...granted he's no Pau Gasol, but at the time no one knew he'd be this good!)
Jefferson brings to the table reliability on the offensive end. He is a strong big man that has a variety of post moves, and he should bring 20 plus points a night from that position. Although he doesn't provide terrific defense (sure, he'll block a couple shots and get boards), let's be honest and say that Boozer wasn't exactly that intimidating force on that end of the floor.
Of course, they still have one of the leagues best point guards in Deron Williams running the helm. He has plenty of options with Boozer's stat-clone, Paul Milsap, a defensive versatile big man in Andrei Kirilenko, and a spot up shooter in C.J. Miles on the wing. Not only that, but they just recently drafted Butler's Gordon Hayward, who seems to have plenty of upside and should more than fill than the void that Kyle Korver left but offers much more versatility on the offensive end.
Overall, I like this team. And like I mentioned above, with so many question marks in this division, I like the Jazz's stability even more going into the year, which is why I see them winning the division and ultimately having homecourt unless they face the Lakers in the WCF, but....
Prediction: 61-21, 1st in division, 2nd in conference, 2nd round exit
2) Oklahoma City Supersonics (LY: 50-32, 4th in division, 8th in conference, first round exit)
The NBA darlings of the new year go into a season with little change made to their roster. They should be more confident and their chemistry should only get stronger. Kevin Durant made the World know who may arguably very well be the NBA's best player this summer in the FIBA World Championships, and, according to GM's most likely to win the NBA MVP for this coming season.
Some questions going into the year more surround who's going to start for the Thunder. If last year's model serves up to be true Kristic, Sefolosha, Westbrook, Durant, and Green should run out to be this teams starting five. Scott Brooks has been tinkering with the idea of starting James Harden over Nenad Kristic which basically substitutes defense for even more offensive power. Serge Ibaka is another player is going to get the bulk of the minutes in the middle over Kristic as he gives a solid base defensively in what was ranked the number team according to blocks last year.
A lot of the hype surrounding this team this year is due to the struggle this team posed for the World Champion Lakers in the first round. They have the most athletic team in the league, and they caught the Lakers by surprise with their speed and quickness. And let's not forget, this team holds the Guiness Book of World Record for loudest NBA arena. They should win a ton of games at home, and with newfound confidence and Durant leading the way, they should win a good chunk of their road games this year. But are they good enough to beat the newly improved NBA Champs?
Prediction: 56-26, 2nd in division, 3rd in conference, WCF exit
3) Portland Trailblazers (LY: 50-32, 3rd in division, 6th in conference, first round exit)
This team never seems to catch a break on the injury front. With their big men going down in Pryzbilla and Greg Oden as well as superstar Brandon Roy, they still managed to win 50 games last year! Give credit to Nate McMillan! With such bad luck hitting this team, anyone would of understood them falling out of the playoff picture. It was mentally and physically tough with such an injury plagued season.
But overall you got to love the hear that this team plays with. They give it all they got on the court and are mentally tough. If by the end of the year, this team is realtively healthy, that mental toughness should carry them into the playoffs with some relative success. Do I think they will be healthy come April? No
This team is good enough to make the playoffs. Brandon Roy is presumably healthy, Andre Miller is an iron man, LeMarcus Aldridge is a steady contributor, Nicolas Batum proved in the World's that he should deserve more run, and Marcus Camby plays the traditional Center role of blocking shots and getting rebounds.
IF this team can get back a healthy Greg Oden and IF Brandon Roy can return to his 2008-2009 form. This team can be a darkhorse heading into the playoffs.
However...
Prediction: 49-33, 3rd in division, 5th in conference, 1st round exit
4) Denver Nuggets (LY: 53-29, 1st in division, 4th in conference, 1st round exit)
A team that was supposed to contend for a title and possibly dethrone the Lakers in the West just a year ago, has now added the ultimate distraction...their star player looking for greener pastures. Oh how the mighty have fallen!
Lucky for them, they do have Melo for a limited number of time. So if they can rack up some wins early until December, I feel they still have a fighting chance to make it into the playoffs. Plus they still have Chauncey Billups who is, ultimately, a distraction immobilizer with his leadership and steady play.
However, do the Nuggets want to be the next Raptors and lose out altogether by NOT trading their superstar? I don't think so, and ultimately it's going to come down to the December deadline where newly acquired free agent can officially be traded. That will be the time teams like New York and such can put together better packages for Melo. The Nuggets have to get something, because Melo has been quite clear that he'll be riding out his contract. If he truly wanted to stay in Denver, he would of already signed that $65 million dollar extension, especially with CBA looming. Perhaps his Superfriends in South Beach got him thinking and perhaps him and Chris Paul have been colluding as well to form their own Super Trio in the Big Apple.
It all comes down to how George Karl and Chauncey Billups manage a squad with headcases like JR Smith and Kenyon Martin once Melo leaves. Who will be Billups number 2 guy? Afflalo? Smith? Martin? Nene? It doesn't look good in the Mile High City.
Perhaps Denver can be creative and package Billups with say an Afflalo and JR Smith and get another disgruntled superstar...cough cough...Chris Paul. Unless Denver can get creative, I see a Mile High of Crap on the floor come April.
Prediction: 45-37, 4th in division, 9th in conference, no playoffs
5) Minnesota Timberwolves (LY: 15-67, 5th in division, last in conference, pfft playoffs? hahaha)
Ugh, this team sucks. PERIOD. Oh and they have one less player...their best player in Al Jefferson for Kosta Koufos. hahaha. wow. bad...really bad.
Hey at least they got Michael Beasley right?! oh, okay. Nevermind than...
It's too bad I like Kurt Rambis. Too bad he didn't stick around because he was likely to be Phil's replacement once he retired and he'd be coaching the likes of Pau and Kobe and opposed to Love and Beasley.
Don't get me wrong, I love LOVE, but he's a David Lee type talent who needs a superstar he can compliment.
As Bill Simmons would put it, David KAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHN!!!!!!!!! doesn't know what the hell he is doing.
Prediction: 20-62, 5th in division, last in conference, absolutely NO CHANCE of playoffs
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